MPOSTOR 

JOHN  REED  SCOTT 


U/vw.t 


'MISS  STIRLING,  IS  SIR  EDWARD  DANGEROUS,  AS  WELL  AS  FASCINATING. 
OR  SIMPLY  FASCINATING?"    ASKED  MISS  MARBURY. 

Page  £08 


THE  IMPOSTOR 


A  TALE  OF  OLD  ANNAPOLIS 


BY 

JOHN  REED  SCOTT 

-**?-          2»» 

AUTHOR  OF  "THE  COLOKEL  OF  THE  RED  HUZZARS,"  "  BEATRIX  OV  CLARK,' 
"THB  PRINCESS  DKHRA,"   "  THK  WOMAN  IN  QUKffnOK,"  WtC. 


WITH  ILLUSTRATIONS  IN  COLOR 
BY    CLARENCE    F.    UNDERWOOD 


PHILADELPHIA  AND  LONDON 
J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY 

1910 


COPYRIGHT,  1910 
BY  JOHN  REKD  Boorr 


Published  September,  1910 


Printed  by  J.  B.  Lippincatt  Company 
TV  Washington  Square  Press,  Philadelphia,  U.S.A. 


DEDICATED 

TO  THE  ONE  WITHOUT  WHOSE  UNFAILING 
COMFORT  ENCOURAGEMENT  AND  AB8KT- 
ANCE  IN  TIME  OF  SERIOUS  AFFLIC 
TION  AND  DEEP  DISTRESS  THIS  STORY 
WOULD  NOT  HAVE  BEEN  FINISHED 


FOREWORD 

I  have  endeavored  to  tell  an  old  story  in  a 
modern  fashion.  Wherein  I  have  failed,  I  beg  in 
dulgence;  wherein  I  have  succeeded,  even  a  little, 
I  have  to  thank  the  Spirit  of  the  Past,  which  still 
lingers  in  the  ancient  capital  and  its  environs. 

To  Mrs.  Story,  the  present  owner,  who  graci 
ously  permitted  me  t»  inspect  Whitehall;  to  Mrs. 
Dugan,  Prudence  R. — a  direct  descendant  of  John 
Ridout,  the  Commissary-General — who  gave  me 
much  information  concerning  Governor  Sharpe; 
and  to  Miss  Shaffer,  the  State  Librarian,  in  whose 
charge  are  the  Maryland  Gazettes  of  the  period, 
as  well  as  to  the  Gazettes  themselves,  I  wish  to 
express  my  sincere  appreciation. 

J.  R.  S. 

GWTTSBURG,  PKNNA.,  6  June  '10. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

I. — THE  GOVERNOR'S  NIECE 13 

II. — SIR  EDWARD  PARKINGTON 24 

HI.— THE  RACES 33 

IV. — THE  MARBURYS 46 

V. — HEDGELY  HALL  AND  MARBURY,  SENIOR 59 

VI. — THE  MISTAKE 73 

VII. — SIR  EDWARD  LAYS  PLANS 88 

VIII. — THE  MEANING  OF  A  SHRUG 104 

IX.— THE  SURPRISE 122 

X.— THE  DEFEAT 141 

XI.— THE  KEY 160 

XII. — MAYNADIER'S  DREAM 178 

XIII. — THE  CAMPAIGNS 196 

XIV. — GUILTY  AND  Nor  GUILTY  212 

XV. — LONG-SWORD  AGAIN 238 

XVI. — THE  CRESCENT  AND  THE  STAR 253 

XVII. — A  LETTER  AND  A  CONFESSION 271 

XVIII. — THE  BROKEN  RENDEZVC  us 289 

XIX. — ARRAIGNED 304 

XX. — THE  PENALTY  OF  A  BIRTH-MARK .  320 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 


"MBS  STIRLING,  IS  SIR  EDWARD  DANGEROUS,  AS  WELL 
AS  FASCINATING,  OR  SIMPLY  FASCINATING  ?  "  ASKED 
MISS  MARBURY Frontispiece 

"IT  IS  A  QUEER  TRADE,  MONSIEUR,  THIS    OF  A  PIRATE,"  HE 

SAID 144 

"WHAT  WERE  YOU  AND  SIR  EDWARD  TALKING  ABOUT  LAST 

NIGHT  ?"  HE  ASKED 306 


THE  IMPOSTOR 


THE    GOVERNOR  S    NIECE 

MARTHA  STIRLING  came  slowly  down  the  steps 
into  the  garden,  pausing  for  a  moment,  on  each 
step,  lest  the  Governor  hear  her;  then  she  sped 
quickly  across  the  lawn,  and,  bending  over,  kissed 
him  on  the  cheek. 

"  Good  moniing,  your  Excellency  !  "  she  laughed. 

Colonel  Sharpe  looked  up,  with  a  start. 

"  Bless  me,  girl !  have  some  regard  for  your 
uncle's  dignity,"  he  said,  drawing  her  down  on  the 
arm  of  the  chair.  "  It  seems  to  me,  young  lady, 
that  you  are  a  trifle  clever  in  the  kissing  art,  to 
never  have  been  kissed  yourself." 

**  For  shame,  sir !  You,  a  royal  Governor — no, 
I  mean  a  Lord  Baltimore's  Governor — to  intimate 
so  scandalous  a  thing.  It  may  be,  sir,  that,  as  to 

you,  I  could  truthfully  not  intimate Tell 

me,  who  is  the  young  man  that  came  with  Mr. 
Dulany." 

"  Ho»  ho !  That  is  the  reason  for  the  kiss :  to 
make  me  amenable.  Why  did  you  not  say,  *  the 
handsome  young  man  '  ?  " 

"  The  handsome  young  man,  then ;  indeed,  the 
very  handsome  young  man." 

IS 


14  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  He  is  a  stranger  in  Annapolis." 

"  I  know  that." 

"  And  what  else?  " 

"  What  my  eyes  saw — graceful,  easy,  handsome, 
a  man  of  the  world." 

"  Oh,  you  women !  Graceful,  easy,  handsome,  a 
man  of  the  world!  You  judge  by  externals." 

"  And  pray,  sir,  what  else  had  I  to  judge  by?  " 
springing  up ;  "  I  but  saw  him — you  spoke  with  him. 
How  far  am  I  amiss  ?  " 

The  Governor  smiled.  "  Not  by  the  frac 
tion  of  a  hair,  so  far  as  I  can  make  it," 
he  said.  "  He  is  Sir  Edward  Parkington,  come 
from  London  for  his  pleasure.  He  brought 
with  him  letters  of  introduction  to  Mr.  Du- 
lany  and  myself.  He  seems  to  have  been  in  a 
rather  hard  case,  too.  He  took  passage  from  The 
Capes  to  Annapolis  in  The  Sally,  a  bark  of  small 
tonnage  and  worse  sail.  They  ran  into  a  storm; 
the  bark  foundered,  and  all  on  board  were  lost,  ex 
cept  Parkington;  or,  at  least,  he  saw  none  when, 
more  dead  than  alive,  he  was  cast  ashore  near  Saint 
Mary's." 

"  The  poor  fellow !     Did  he  lose  everything?  " 

"  Everything  but  the  letters,  which  were  in  his 
pocket — and  his  charm  of  manner  and  good  looks." 

"  At  least,  we  shall  appreciate  the  latter." 

The  Governor  looked  at  her  rather  quizzically. 
"  Yes,  I  reckon  you  will,"  he  said.  "  At  least,  if 
you  do  not,  it  will  be  the  first  time."  His  eyes 


THE  GOVERNOR'S  NIECE  15 

fell  on  one,  in  the  red  and  blue  of  the  Royal  Ameri 
cans,  who  just  emerged  from  the  house,  and  was  hesi 
tating  on  the  piazza,  as  though  uncertain  whether 
to  descend.  "  It  seems  to  me  there  is  something 
familiar  in  that  personage.  Do  you  know  him?" 

Martha  turned  and  looked. 

"  Oh !  "  she  said,  "  I  do  not  want  to  see  him. 
Why  does  he  pester  me?  " 

"  Nevertheless,  my  dear,  he  is  there ;  and  I  see 
he  is  coming  here.  So  take  him  off  and  make  game 
of  him,  playing  him  this  way  and  that ;  a  bit  of  en 
couragement,  a  vast  disdain;  and,  then,  send  him 
off  again  a  little  more  securely  hooked  than  ever. 
....  Good  morning,  Captain  Herford,  were  you 
looking  for  us,  or,  rather,  were  you  looking  for  one 
of  us?" 

Charles  Herford  bowed,  elaborately,  his  hand 
upon  his  sword-hilt,  his  hat  across  his  heart. 

*'  If  your  Excellency  please,  I  was,"  he  said. 

"  Which  one :  Mistress  Martha  Stirling  or  Ho 
ratio  Sharpe?  "  asked  the  Governor,  arising. 

"  Mistress  Stirling,  so  please  you,"  said  Herford, 
with  another  bow. 

"  Then,  I  bid  you  good  morning ! "  the  Colonel 
laughed,  and  returned  to  the  house. 

"  Well,  sir,"  said  Miss  Stirling,  after  a  moment's 
silence,  "  what  can  I  do  for  you — or,  rather,  what 
•an  I  do  with  you  ?  " 

**  Treat  me  just  faintly  nice." 


16  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  Oh,"  she  said,  looking  at  him  through  half- 
closed  eyes,  "  is  that  it ;  humble,  this  morning !  " 

"  Yes,  humble,  grovelling,  anything  to  win  your 
favor." 

She  turned,  and  they  passed  slowly  among  the 
flowers. 

"  Is  humbleness  the  way  to  win  a  woman's 
favor?  "  she  asked. 

"  I  do  not  know.  It  seems  to  me  the  proper  way 
— or,  if  not  proper,  the  more  expedient  way.  Per 
chance,  you  will  tell  me." 

A  faint  smile  crossed  her  lips.  "  I  ?  "  she  said. 
"  I  can  tell  you  nothing.  My  favor  is  not  for  your 
winning,  Mr.  Herford,  nor  for  any  one's  else  in  the 
Colony."  She  stopped,  and  plucked  a  rose. 
"  Come,  come,  sir,  be  sensible !  Why  cannot  you  be 
alone  with  me  without  thinking  of  favor  or  love? 
Enjoy  the  moaning,  and  the  flowers,  and  these 
beautiful  gardens,  sweeping  away  to  the  Severn, 
and  the  golden  Severn  itself,  or  the  silver  Severn, 
whichever  way  you  will  have  it;  I  am  not  par 
ticular." 

"  Do  you  mean,"  he  said,  with  a  laugh,  "  that  I 
should  go  down  and  throw  myself  off  the  dock?  " 

"  No,  nothing  quite  so  bad  as  that ;  you  know 
what  I  mean.  Now,  come  along,  and  not  another 
word  on  the  forbidden  subject.  Here! "  and  gave 
him  the  rose. 

"  A  thousand  thanks ! "  he  said,  and  kissed  her 
hand. 


THE  GOVERNOR'S  NIECE  17 

"  Sir  Edward  Parkington  is  a  very  handsome 
man,"  she  observed,  presently ;  "  don't  you  think 
so?" 

"  I  am  willing  to  accept  your  judgment  on  him." 

"  But  what  is  your  own  judgment?  " 

"  I  have  not  any.  I  do  not  know  Sir  Edward 
Parkington." 

"  And  have  not  seen  him?  " 

He  shook  his  head. 

"  Nor  ever  heard  of  him,"  he  said. 

"  Is  it  possible  that  you  blades  of  the  Coffee 
house  must  come  to  a  woman  to  learn  the  last  gossip 
— and  him  a  Sir?  " 

"  It  would  seem  so,"  he  answered.  "  Who  is  this 
Sir  Edward  Parkington,  and  from  where?  " 

"  From  London — come  to  Annapolis  with  letters 
to  his  Excellency  and  to  Mr.  Dulany.  A  very  ele 
gant  gentleman,  indeed." 

"  To  have  gained  your  favor,  he  must  have  been 
all  that." 

"  Oh! "  she  said,  "  I  just  saw  him  for  a  moment, 
but  it  was  quite  sufficient." 

"  I  wonder,"  he  said,  watching  her  narrowly,  "  I 
wonder  if  he  has  a  wife?  " 

She  laughed,  gaily.  "  Meaning  that,  if  he  had 
not,  I  might  be  his  lady?  " 

Herford  bowed.  "  Since  it  may  not  be  in  the 
Colony,  best  back  to  London  for  the  Colony's  own 
good." 

"  Are  you  not  a  bit  premature  ?  Sir  Edward  may 
2 


18  THE  IMPOSTOR 

be  married,  and,  even  if  he  is  not,  I  may  not  suit 
him  for  a  wife." 

*'  I  was  assuming  him  to  be  a  man  of  taste ;  of 
'  the  high  kick  of  fashion  '  in  all  things." 

"  And  so  he  is.  I  saw  him  only  cross  the  lawn, 
to  where  Colonel  Sharpe  was  standing,  but  such 
ease  and  grace  I  never  have  seen  exceeded — even 
your  Mr.  Dulany  appeared  awkward,  by  compari 
son." 

"  Sometime,  I  hope  to  meet  him  and  acquire  a  bit 
of  polish,"  he  said,  with  a  laugh  in  which  good 
nature  was  just  touched  with  scorn.  "  Meanwhile, 
it  were  just  as  well  to  be  a  good  soldier  and  retire." 

"  Not  going,  Captain  Herf  ord.  " 

"Yes,  going;  you  are  in  a  teasing  mood,  this 
morning.  You  go  to  the  races  to-morrow?  " 

"  I  certainly  shall." 

"  And  I  may  ride  beside  the  coach?  " 

"  If  you  wish,"  she  said ;  "  with  Mr.  Paca,  and 
Mr.  Hammond  and " 

"  And  a  score  of  others,  of  course." 

He  bowed  over  her  hand  a  moment,  then  strolled 
away,  singing  softly  the  chorus  of  the  old  troop 
song: 

"  Then   over    the    rocks    and    over   the    steep, 
Over  the  waters,  wide  and  deep, 
We'll  drive  the  French  without  delay, 
Over  the  lakes  and  far  away." 

Martha  Stirling  listened  until  the  singing  ceased, 
then  she  shrugged  her  shoulders,  and  went  slowly 
back  to  the  house. 


THE  GOVERNOR'S  NIECE  19 

A  month  before  she  had  come  out  from  England 
to  visit  her  uncle — Colonel  Horatio  Sharpe,  Gover 
nor  of  Maryland — and  instantly  became  the  toast 
of  all  the  young  men  of  the  Colony.  There  was 
nothing  surprising,  possibly,  in  that;  Governor 
Sharpe's  niece  would  have  been  popular  if  she  had 
been  without  any  particular  attraction,  but  Miss 
Stirling  had  attractions  in  abundance. 

Under  a  great  mass  of  jet  black  hair,  piled  high 
on  her  head,  was  a  face  of  charming  beauty,  with 
blue  eyes  that  warmed  and  sparkled — though  on 
occasion  they  could  glint  cold  enough — a  perfect 
nose,  and  a  mouth  made  for  laughter  alone.  In 
figure,  she  was  just  above  the  average,  slender  and 
lithe.  This  morning,  her  gown  was  of  pink  linen, 
and,  as  she  passed  up  the  steps  into  the  mansion, 
one  could  see  a  finely  turned  silk  ankle,  with  white 
slippers  to  match. 

Crossing  the  wide  entrance  hall,  she  knocked  on 
a  door,  waited  a  moment,  and,  receiving  no  reply, 
knocked  again,  then  entered.  It  was  the  Governor's 
room,  but  he  was  not  in  presence.  As  she  turned 
away,  old  Joshua,  the  white-haired  negro  who  was 
his  Excellency's  body-servant,  appeared. 

"  Where  is  Colonel  Sharpe?  "  she  asked. 

"  Gone  to  the  State  House,  Mis'  Marfa." 

She  nodded  in  dismissal  and  went  in,  leaving  the 
door  open  behind  her.  Seating  herself  at  the  great, 
broad  table,  her  glance  fell  on  a  letter,  opened  and 
spread  wide.  Not  thinking  what  she  did,  she  read : 


20  THE  IMPOSTOR 

London,  10th  March,  1766. 
My  Dear  Sir: 

This  letter  will  Introduce  to  you  Sir  Edward 
Parkington  for  Whom  I  bespeak  your  most  cour 
teous  Attention  and  Regard.  Extend  him  att  the 
Hospitality  in  your  power.  I  am,  Sir, 

Your  humble  and  ob'd't  servant, 

Baltimore. 
To 

His  Excellency,  Col.  Horatio  Sharpe, 

Governor  of  Maryland. 

"  So  !  "  she  said,  "  Baltimore  himself  sponsors  Sir 
Edward  Parkington ;  which  may  mean  much  for  his 

responsibilities  but  little  for  his  morals 

Well,  he  will  serve  to  irritate  Captain  Herford ;  but 
can  I  use  him  to  draw  Richard  Maynadier  one  little 
step  along?  " 

For  a  space  she  sat  there,  her  forehead  wrinkled 
in  a  frown.  She  did  not  hear  the  voices  at  the  front 
door,  nor  the  footsteps  that  crossed  the  hall,  until 
they  entered  the  room ;  then  she  glanced  up,  and  a 
smile  of  welcome  shone  from  her  eyes,  as  the  man, 
who  was  in  her  thoughts,  stood  before  her. 

"  Mr.  Maynadier !  "  she  said,  extending  her  hand 
across  the  table. 

He  bowed  over  it  with  easy  grace.  "  His  Excel 
lency  leaves  a  fair  deputy." 

"  And  what  can  that  deputy  do  for  you  ?  " 

"  Much,"  he  said.     "  Much  that  I  dare  not  even 


THE  GOVERNOR'S  NIECE  21 

hope.  So  I'll  ask  for  only  that  package  on  the 
table,  there." 

"  Take  it,"  she  said—"  take  anything." 

"  Anything  on  the  table,  that  is  ?  " 

The  smile  rippled  into  a  laugh.  "  Take  any 
thing  in  the  room,"  she  said ;  "  there  is  none  of  them 
mine." 

He  drew  a  chair  up  to  the  table. 

"  May  I,"  he  said,  "  sit  here  a  moment,  while 
the  Council  waits  ?  " 

"  If  you  wish,"  she  answered ;  "  you  will  have  to 
answer  to  the  Council." 

He  leaned  back,  and  looked  at  her  silently. 

"  Miss  Stirling,"  he  said,  presently,  "  you  are  a 
flirt." 

"  What  is  that  to  you,  sir?  "  she  demanded. 

He  ignored  the  question.  "  You  have  half  the 
young  men  of  Annapolis  ready  to  pink  one  another, 
and  praying  but  for  an  excuse." 

"  Again,  sir,  what  is  that  to  you  ?  " 

"  You  have  Mr.  Hammond,  and  Mr.  Paca,  and 
Mr.  Jennings,  and  Mr.  Constable,  and  Captain 
Herford  mad  about  you." 

She  gave  him  her  sweetest  smile.  "  You  have 
forgotten  Mr.  Richard  Maynadier,"  she  said. 

"  Mr.  Maynadier  is  not  in  the  running.  He  is 
content  to  look  on " 

"  With  an  occasional  word  of  advice,"  she  cut  in. 

"  With  an  occasional  word  of  advice,"  he  agreed. 
"  Meanwhile,  content  to  stand  afar  off  and  view 
the  struggle." 


22  THE  IMPOSTOR 

She  put  both  elbows  on  the  table  and  leaned 
across. 

"  Why  view  it  from  afar,"  she  said,  sweetly ; 
"  why  not  join  in  the  struggle?  " 

"  For  several  reasons,"  he  said.  "  First,  I  am 
too  old." 

"  I  should  never  have  guessed  it." 

"  Second,  I  have  not  the  graces  that  are 
requisite." 

"  I  had  not  noticed  it." 

"  And,  lastly,  I  have  not  the  inclination." 

"  That,  I  should  never  have  guessed." 

"  No,  I  suppose  not.     We  all  are  game  for  a 
pretty  woman.     Let  a  man  but  bow  and  kiss  her 
hand,  and,  behold!  another  suitor." 
She  sat  up  sharply. 

"  Mr.  Maynadier,  I  will  make  a  compact  with 
you,"  she  said.  "  You  say  you  are  too  old,  have 
not  the  graces,  and  have  not  the  inclination — so  be 
it.  A  flirt  may  have  her  friends.  We  will  be 
comrades — I  to  use  no  art  of  coquetry  upon  you, 
you  to  speak  no  word  of  love  to  me.  Is  it  a  bar 
gain?  " 

He  regarded  her  with  an  amused  smile. 

"  If  you  wish  it,"  he  said.  "  I  think  we  both  of 
us  are  safe  enough  without  it — though,  who  knows. 

At  any  rate,  the  flag  of  truce  will  hold  us 

Now,  I  will  back  to  the  Council.     I  will  see  you  at 
the  races,  to-morrow,  of  course." 


THE  GOVERNOR'S  NIECE  23 

"  Yes ;  and  I  have  a  pistole  or  two  which  you 
may  put  on  Figaro  for  me,"  she  said,  accompany 
ing  him  to  the  door. 

She  stood  and  watched  him,  as  he  went  down  the 
walk  toward  North-East  Street,  and  disappeared. 

"  I  wonder,"  she  said,  "  I  wonder Well, 

Mr.  Richard  Maynadier,  we  shall  see  if  you  cannot 
be  taught  to  have  the  inclination." 


II 


SIR    EDWARD    PARKINGTON 

THAT  night,  the  Annapolis  Coffee-house  was  un 
usually  popular.  The  General  Assembly  was  in 
session,  and  representatives  of  all  the  prominent 
families  of  the  Colony  were  in  attendance.  The 
Maryland  Gazette  had  just  appeared,  announcing 
that  it  would  not  print  Samuel  Chase's  answer,  to 
the  Mayor  and  Aldermen  of  the  City,  lest  it  be 
libelous,  and  that  Chase  could  issue  it  himself.  The 
whole  controversy  was  of  little  moment  and  aimed  at 
nothing.  Nevertheless,  it  had  stirred  up  all  the 
latent  ill  feeling,  that  had  existed  for  some  time 
between  Chase  and  his  followers,  on  one  hand,  and 
the  old  residents  of  Arinapolis,  on  the  other. 

"  Chase  always  was  a  firebrand ! "  exclaimed 
young  Mr.  Paca ;  "  some  day,  he  will  ignite  the 
magazine  on  which  he  is  sitting,  and  blow  himself 
up." 

"  And  the  quicker  he  does  it  the  better,"  sug 
gested  Mr.  Hammond.  "  Chase  has  ability,  but 
he  does  not  use  it  for  good." 

"  That  is  what  gives  me  no  patience  with  him," 
said  Mr.  Worthington.  "  He  plays  to  the  rabble — 
a  queer  trait  for  the  son  of  a  clergyman  of  the 
Church  of  England." 

"  It  is  all  for  effect,"  said  Mr.  Paca;  "  to  get 

24 


clients,  to  get  prominence ;  down  in  his  heart  he  has 
the  same  view  as  we  have." 

"  That's  it,"  said  Mr.  Cole,  who  was  a  bit  the 
worse  for  liquor.  "  The  fellow  isn't  honest." 

"Who  is  not  honest?"  asked  a  medium-sized, 
heavy-set  man  of  twenty-five,  who  had  entered  the 
room  unnoticed. 

"  You !  "  returned  Cole.  "  You  don't  believe  what 
you  say ;  you  are  playing  to  the  rabble." 

Chase  looked  at  Cole  closely  for  a  moment,  then 
shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  I  do  not  argue  with  a  drunken  man,  much  less 
quarrel  with  one,"  he  said.  "  Do  any  of  you  other 
gentlemen  endorse  his  words?  " 

"  Not  as  spoken,"  said  Mr.  Paca ;  "  but  what  we 
did  say,  is  that  we  do  not  endorse  your  course  as  an 
official.  You  are  the  Public  Prosecutor,  and  we  do 
not  approve  of  the  way  you  use  your  office. — That 
we  said,  and  that  we  stand  behind." 

"  I  am  very  sorry  if  I  have  not  pleased  you," 
said  Chase,  indifferently,  taking  a  chair  beside 
Paca ;  "  I  understand  that  a  public  official  is  a  free 
subject  for  criticism,  and  the  public  may  impugn 
his  motives  and  his  judgment — with  that  I  find  no 
fault." 

"  You  said  I  was  drunk,"  exclaimed  Cole. 

"Did  I?"  said  Chase.  "Well,  you're  not— 
you're  not.  I  was  mistaken.  I  apologize." 

"  It's  granted,"  said  Cole.  "  Have  a  drink  with 
me. — Everybody  have  a  drink  with  me.  Here,  Spar- 


26  THE  IMPOSTOR 

row — where  the  devil's  the  fellow — take  the  gentle 
men's  orders. — Ah !  sir,"  as  a  stranger  appeared  in 
the  doorway,  "come  in;  we're  just  going  to  have 
a  drink.  What  will  you  have?  " 

The  newcomer  let  his  eyes  rest,  casually,  on  Cole. 

"  Permit  me  to  decline,"  he  said ;  "  I  was  looking 
for  some  one." 

"  Your  pardon,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Paca,  stepping  for 
ward  ;  "  are  you  not  Sir  Edward  Parkington  ?  " 

"  I  am,"  he  said ;  "  at  your  service." 

Mr.  Paca  extended  his  hand.  "  Permit  me  to  in 
troduce  myself.  I  am  William  Paca;  this  is  Mr. 
Hammond,  and  Mr.  Worthington,  and  Mr.  Cole, 
and  Mr.  Chase." 

Parkington  acknowledged  the  introduction  with 
a  sweeping  bow,  and  took  the  proffered  chair. 

"What  is  your  order,  sir?"  Cole  persisted. 

"  A  little  rum  and  water,  if  you  won't  excuse  me." 

"  I  won't  excuse  you. — I  won't  excuse  anybody," 
Cole  averred.  "  Sparrow,  some  rum  and  water  for 
Sir  Edward  Parkington,  and  make  haste." 

"  Are  you  here  for  any  time  ?  "  inquired  Mr. 
Hammond. 

"  I  should  say  that  I  am,"  replied  Parkington. 
"  If  the  hospitality  I  have  received  to-day  is  any 
test,  you  will  not  be  quit  of  me  for  a  year." 

"  You  honor  us,"  said  Mr.  Paca. 

"  No,  I  do  not ;  I  simply  appreciate  you.  We 
have  not  got  a  more  charming  man,  in  London, 


SIR  EDWARD  PARKINGTON  27 

than  your  Mr.  Dulany ;  while  as  for  your  Governor, 
he  is  a  true  officer  of  his  Majesty." 

"  We  have  never  had  so  popular  a  Governor. 
He  is  a  natural  leader,"  said  Mr.  Worthington. 
"  And  now,  that  he  has  bought  Whitehall,  and 
erected  a  spacious  mansion  overlooking  the  Bay, 
he  has  become  one  of  us.  The  only  pity  is  that  we 
have  not  been  able  to  provide  him  with  a  wife." 

"  Not  for  want  of  charming  women,  I  warrant." 

"  No,  not  on  that  account — Annapolis  will  yield 
to  none  in  the  beauty  of  her  daughters.  It  is  said 
there  is  an  old  wound  that  rankles  still." 

"  An  old  wound!  got  in  England?  " 

"  No,  got  in  Maryland,  the  very  day  he  landed 
at  the  dock,  from  the  good  ship  '  Mollie.'  It  is 
common  rumor,  and  I  violate  no  confidence  by  tell 
ing.  There  came  with  him,  as  secretary,  one  John 
Ridout — now,  the  Honorable  John  Ridout.  He  was 
met  at  the  wharf  by  the  Honorable  Benjamin 
Tasker,  President  of  the  Council  and  acting  Gover 
nor,  who  had  with  him  his  grandchild,  Mary  Ogle — 
then  a  mere  slip  of  a  girl  of  fourteen,  but  giving 
promise  of  rare  beauty  in  the  future.  It  is  said, 
the  Governor  and  John  Ridout  both  fell  in  love  that 
day,  while  they  walked  up  Green  Street,  and  along 
the  Spa  to  the  Tasker  residence.  Five  years  later, 
she  chose  the  secretary,  and  gave  the  Governor 
nay." 

"  And  Ridout  remained  the  Governor's  secre 
tary  ?  "  Parkington  asked. 


28  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  There  showed  the  measure  of  the  man.  He  is, 
to-day,  the  Commissary-General  of  the  Province, 
and  member  of  his  Excellency's  Council,  and  no  one 
is  so  close  to  Governor  Sharpe  as  is  he." 

"  A  pretty  enough  story,"  said  Parkington  ;  "  do 
you  think  it  is  true?  " 

"  We  have  no  doubt  of  it." 

"  Well,"  observed  Parkington,  "  one  warms  to 
him  marvelously  easy.  What  ailed  the  lady,  that 
she  chose  the  subaltern  when  she  could  have  had  the 
master?  " 

Mr.  Paca  laughed.  "  Women  are  a  law  unto 
themselves !  "  he  said ;  "  and  Ridout  is  marvelously 
handsome  and  nearer  her  own  age."  A  gurgle, 
ending  in  a  prolonged  snore,  came  from  the  chair 
beside  him.  "  Ah  !  Cole  slumbers.  We  shall  hear 
from  him  no  more  to-night." 

Presently,  the  talk  veered  over  to  politics.  Notice 
of  the  Stamp  Act  being  repealed  had  come  to  the 
Colony  a  month  before,  and  had  been  made  the  occa 
sion  for  an  ardent  demonstration,  though,  as  a  mat 
ter  of  fact,  it  had  been  a  dead  statute  and  unen- 
forcible,  in  Maryland,  from  the  moment  of  its  pas 
sage.  An  act,  once  it  is  off  the  books,  may  be 
condemned  in  most  disloyal  language,  and  no  offense 
be  given,  even  if  it  were  the  pet  measure  of  a 
sovereign.  But  George  the  Third  was  a  stubborn 
monarch,  and  no  sooner  was  the  Stamp  Act  null 
and  void,  than  a  new  hobby  was  his,  and  one  that 


SIR  EDWARD  PARKINGTON  29 

required  no  legislation  to  support  it.  And  Samuel 
Chase,  with  a  fine  ignoring-  of  the  proprieties,  soon 
hit  upon  it. 

"  I  understand,"  said  he,  "  that  recently  an  appli 
cation  for  land,  beyond  the  Allegheny  Mountains, 
was  refused  by  the  Board  of  Trade,  in  London." 

Parkington  was  silent.  Paca  and  Hammond 
both  tried  to  change  the  conversation,  but  Chase 
would  not  have  it. 

"  The  Board  of  Trade  will  find  itself  ignored," 
he  said.  "  There  will  not  be  any  applications.  The 
people  will  simply  settle,  and,  when  they  are  settled, 
nothing  but  a  royal  army  will  move  them  off;  and 
when  a  royal  army  invades  this  country,  for  such 
a  purpose,  it  means  war." 

With  that,  the  rest  broke  in.  Mr.  Paca  declared 
Chase  spoke  for  himself  alone,  and  Mr.  Hammond 
that  he  was  anticipating  trouble;  but  Sir  Edward 
Parkington  surveyed  Chase  with  a  tolerant  smile, 
and  waved  the  matter  aside. 

"  Do  not  concern  yourself  to  soften  the  views  the 
gentleman  has  just  expressed,"  he  said.  "  They 
give  me  no  offense.  I  am  a  loyal  subject  of  his 
Majesty,  but  I  think  that  the  quicker  we  free 
America,  the  better  for  both  America  and  England. 
You  will  leave  us  some  day,  as  the  child  leaves  the 
parent  when  it  reaches  maturity;  the  only  question 
is,  when  that  time  comes.  I  take  it,  that  Mr.  Chase 
is  not  trying  to  be  offensive,  and,  if  no  offense  be 


30  THE  IMPOSTOR 

intended,  none  is  given."  He  arose.  "  If  any  of 
you  are  going  in  the  direction  of  Reynolds'  Tavern, 
I  shall  be  glad  for  your  company." 

Mr.  Paca  and  Mr.  Worthington  attended  him 
as  far  as  Saint  Anne's,  where  they  parted ;  the  two 
former  going  to  their  homes,  on  Prince  George 
Street,  while  Parkington  continued  around  the 
Circle  to  the  tavern. 

"  Send  a  mug  of  ale  to  my  room,"  he  said,  to  the 
man  in  the  ordinary 

The  fellow  lighted  the  candles,  put  the  drink  on 
the  table,  and,  after  a  moment's  wait,  withdrew. 

Parkington  unbuckled  his  long  rapier  and  flung 
it  on  the  bed.  Then  he  seated  himself  and  took  a 
sip  of  the  ale,  stretched  out  his  slender  legs,  and 
laughed. 

"  Verily,  the  game  is  easier  than  I  thought !  "  he 
soliloquized.  "  The  real  Parkington  could  not  have 
played  it  better;  I  think  I  shall  enjoy  my  visit  to 
Annapolis.  '  You  are  an  unmitigated  scoundrel, 
sir,'  said  my  esteemed  father.  *  I  have  paid  your 
debts  for  the  last  time;  I  shall  give  you  passage 
to  America,  and  one  hundred  pounds.  Never  let 
me  look  upon  your  face  again — and,  if  there  be  a 
shred  of  decency  about  you,  you  will  change  your 
name.  The  De  Lysles  are  done  with  you  forever; 
have  the  goodness  to  be  done  with  them.'  "  He  took 
another  sip  at  the  ale,  and  laughed  again.  *'  Be 
hold  !  my  name  is  changed.  I  am  Sir  Edward  Park- 


SIR  EDWARD  PARKINGTON  31 

ington,  now — and  Baltimore  himself  vouches  for  me. 
It  was  a  lucky  storm  that  sent  the  crazy  '  Sally  ' 
to  the  bottom,  and  every  one  to  the  devil,  save  only 
me;  but  it  was  a  luckier  fortune  that  washed  the 
real  Sir  Edward  Parkington  and  me  on  the  beach 
together,  with  him  dead  and  me  alive — and  the  let 
ters  on  his  person.  '  There  is  no  one  in  the  Colony 
who  knows  me,'  he  had  said,  that  very  day.  So, 
presto !  Behold  Sir  Edward  Parkington  risen,  and 

me  dead It  would  be  devilish  awkward,  if 

there  is  some  one  in  the  Colony  who  knows  me — but 
that  is  in  the  future."  He  drew  out  a  copy  of  Lord 
Baltimore's  letter  to  his  Excellency.  "  '  Bespeak 
your  most  courteous  attention  and  regard.  Extend 
him  all  the  hospitality  in  your  power.'  I  was  ship 
wrecked;  I  lost  everything  but  the  clothes  on  my 
back,  and  the  letters,  which  were  wrapped  in  oil 
skin,  in  my  pocket.  Therefore,  I  think  the  Gover 
nor's  hospitality  will  have  to  be  pressed  for  a  loan. 
What,  with  him  and  Mr.  Dulany,  and  a  certain 
natural  ability  of  my  own  at  the  card-table,  I  should 
be  able  to  live  very  comfortably,  here,  for  a  year, 
at  least.  This  Annapolis  is  a  neat  enough  town — 
I  was  astonished  at  it;  and  they  seem  to  do  things 
reasonably  well.  The  Coffee-house  is  quite  the  equal 
of  any  we  have  in  London,  and  the  Governor's  man 
sion  and  Mr.  Dulany's,  near-by,  are  excellent. 
....  This  suit  of  clothes,  I  got  in  Saint  Mary's, 
will  answer  until  Pinkney  can  replace  my  ward 
robe — lost  when  the  ship  went  down ! "  He 


32  THE  IMPOSTOR 

chuckled,  softly,  to  himself.  "  And  the  fellow  is  not 
half  bad;  his  styles  are  six  months  behind  the 
fashion,  but  that  is  a  small  matter,  when  every  one 

is   wearing  them Altogether,   I   think    Sir 

Edward  Parkington  will  have  a  pleasant  year — at 
least,  he  is  going  to  enjoy  it  while  it  lasts.  After 
that,  the  deluge." 


Ill 


THE    RACES 

Miss  STIRLING  fastened  the  cross-shaped  watch 
to  the  left  side  of  her  gown,  pressed  into  place  a 
patch  near  her  eye  and  another  near  her  dimple, 
and,  with  a  last  look  in  the  glass,  arose. 

Her  gown  was  of  blue  lustring,  long-waisted  and 
laced  over  a  stomacher,  exquisitely  guimped  and 
pinked.  A  sacque,  of  the  same  material,  hung 
from  her  shoulders  to  the  ground  and  formed  a 
train,  and  on  her  head  was  a  large  chip  hat,  with 
feathers  and  pinks. 

She  crossed  to  the  window  and  drew  aside  the 
curtain.  The  coach  was  waiting,  and  beside  it  were 
Mr.  Paca  and  Mr.  Worthington  and  Captain  Her- 
ford.  She  went  back  to  the  glass,  took  another 
survey,  dabbed  a  bit  of  powder,  here  and  there, 
on  her  face,  smiled  at  her  reflection,  and  turned 
away.  It  was  race  day,  in  Annapolis. 

The  Governor  was  ascending  the  stairs,  as  she 
came  out  of  her  room ;  when  he  reached  the  landing, 
he  stopped  and  looked  at  her.  She  made  him  a 
bit  of  a  curtsy. 

"Will  I  do?"  she  asked. 

"  Yes,  you  will  do,"  he  said ;  "  even  I  can  see 
that.  I  am  sorry  for  the  macaronies  down  in 
front." 

3  33 


34,  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  They  do  not  deserve  any  sympathy." 

"  I  suppose  not,"  he  said ;  "  at  least,  they  do  not 
get  much  from  you.  You  may  take  the  coach;  I 
shall  ride  to  the  course — and  do  not  wait  for  me. 
They  are  sufficient  to  escort  you." 

She  gave  him  a  bright  smile,  and  went  down  and 
out  to  the  coach. 

"  Good  afternoon ! "  she  said,  as  they  sprang 
forward  to  meet  her. — "  No ;  we  will  dispense  with 
anything  but  a  bow."  They  all  tried  to  hand 
her  in,  but  she  waved  them  aside.  "  I  cannot 
choose,  so  I  will  let  the  footman  do  his  office." 

The  young  men  leaped  to  horse.  There  were  but 
two  windows  to  the  coach  and  three  men,  and  Mr. 
Paca  and  Mr.  Worthington  got  the  places  beside 
them,  leaving  Captain  Herford  to  ride  behind,  and 
sulk. 

"  You  are  a  dream,  a  perfect  vision !  "  said  Mr. 
Paca. 

"  An  angel,  rather !  "  Mr.  Worthington  assured 
her. 

"  Why  not  be  sensible,  and  tell  the  truth.  Why 
not  say,  I  am  looking  very  well,  to-day ;  that  would 
be  the  truth,  more  than  that  is  rank  exaggeration. 
One  of  you  let  Captain  Herford  come  up ;  I  want 

to  hear  what  he  will  say Do  you  hear?  I 

said,  one  of  you  give  place  to  Captain  Herford." 

"  Paca,  you  hear?  "  said  Worthington. 

"Worthington,  you  hear?"  said  Paca. 


THE  RACES  35 

Miss  Stirling  laughed.  "  Meanwhile,  Captain 
Herford  rides  behind." 

"  And  is  likely  to  ride  behind  to  the  race  ground," 
said  Worthington. 

"  And  should  ride  behind  forever,  if  we  controlled 
it,"  added  Mr.  Paca. 

They  proceeded  out  of  the  Governor's  grounds, 
and  along  King  George  Street,  to  the  Ogle  corner 
at  Tabernacle  Street.  Here,  the  coach  was  before 
the  door,  and  Mrs.  Ogle  and  Miss  Elizabeth  were 
just  about  to  enter.  Miss  Stirling  waved  her  hand, 
and  called  a  greeting,  while  the  young  men  doffed 
their  hats.  The  Ogles  answered,  and  then  their 
equipage  joined  the  procession. 

Arrived  at  the  Course,  and  occupying  the  place 
reserved  for  the  Governor,  Miss  Stirling  was  aston 
ished  at  what  she  saw.  Here  was  no  ordinary 
gathering,  of  Annapolitans  and  their  neighbors. 
Instead,  a  vast  concourse  of  people,  with  more  than 
fifteen  hundred  horses  hitched  around  the  track, 
and  not  less  than  one  hundred  coaches  parked  within 
the  enclosure. 

"  Why,"  she  said,  "  I  had  no  notion  it  was 
anything  such  as  this.  I  thought  it  would  be  like 
the  small  affairs  in  England.  This  rivals  Carlisle, 
itself." 

"  The  Annapolis  races  are  the  best  in  this  coun 
try,"  said  Mr.  Worthington.  "  We  have  not  only 
all  the  families  of  Maryland  represented  here,  but 
scores  of  the  gentlemen  of  Virginia,  with  not  a  few 


86  THE  IMPOSTOR 

from  Pennsylvania.  The  races  last  almost  a  week. 
Courts  are  adj  ourned,  schools  dismissed — everybody 
takes  a  holiday;  and  the  Assembly,  which  happens 
to  be  in  session,  has  risen  until  they  are  over." 

"  What  are  the  entries  for  the  first  race?"  she 
asked. 

Mr.  Paca  consulted  his  card.  "  Dr.  Hammond's 
Figaro,  Mr.  Hall's  Trial,  Mr.  Yeldell's  Cluster, 
Mr.  Gnatt's  Britannia,  Mr.  Heath's  Merry  Andrew 
and  Major  Sims'  Terror" 

"  And  what  are  the  weights  ?  " 

"  Rising  four  years,  fourteen  hands,  eight  stone ; 
five  years,  nine  stone;  six  years,  ten  stone,  and 
aged,  eleven  stone;  to  give  and  take,  at  the  rate 
of  seven  pounds,  for  every  one  under  or  above  four 
teen  hands." 

"  Is  fourteen  hands  the  average  size  ?  "  she  asked. 
"  Rather  small,  it  seems  to  me." 

"  They  make  it  up  in  speed,  however,"  said  Mr. 
Worthington ;  "  and  Figaro  is  fifteen  hands.  He 
has  run  at  Carlisle  and  at  Preston,  in  your  country, 
and  won  everything.  In  fact,  he  has  never  been 
beaten." 

A  roar  from  the  crowd  announced  the  appearance 
of  the  horses.  "  What  is  the  black?  "  she  asked. 

"  Trial." 

"And  the  chestnut?" 

"  Chester." 

"And  the  sorrel?" 

"  Merry  Andrew." 


THE  RACES  37 

"And  the  bay?" 

"  Figaro." 

She  took  six  pistoles,  from  her  reticule. 

"  Captain  Herford,  will  you  do  me  the  favor  to 
place  this  on  Figaro  ? — What  are  the  odds  ?  " 

"  Three  to  one,  last  night,  at  the  Coffee-house." 

"  Very  good,"  she  said.  "  A  horse  that  won  at 
Carlisle  and  Preston  ought  not  to  have  much 
trouble,  here.  What  is  the  distance?  " 

"  Four  times  around  the  track,  about  three  miles," 
said  Mr.  Paca ;  "  the  best  two  in  three." 

Old  Jonas  Green  had  taken  his  place  in  the 
judge's  stand,  and  the  horses  were  forming  for  the 
break.  The  next  moment,  they  thundered  down  the 
track,  got  the  word,  and  were  away.  A  blanket 
could  have  covered  them,  as  they  swept  around  the 
course  for  the  first  two  times.  Then,  Terror  slowly 
lagged ;  and,  presently,  Merry  Andrew  and  Britan 
nia  had  followed  suit.  The  other  three  were  run 
ning  neck  to  neck.  At  the  turn  into  the  stretch, 
Chester  drew  away,  and  won  by  length  from  Figaro, 
with  Trial  third. 

Instantly  there  was  a  turmoil.  Chester  was  a 
good  horse,  and  the  weights  were  in  his  favor,  but 
no  one  had  supposed  him  capable  of  besting  Figaro. 

"  Had  I  waited,  I  would  have  gotten  longer 
odds,"  said  Miss  Stirling.  "  Mr.  Paca,  see  if  you 
can  put  these  five  pistoles  to  better  advantage — 
on  Figaro,  mind  you." 

"  I  think  Figaro  will  win,"  said  Mr.  Worthing- 


38  THE  IMPOSTOR 

ton.  "  He  has  the  bottom,  and  his  age  will  favor 
him." 

Mr.  Paca  returned  to  announce  that  he  had 
placed  the  money  at  two  to  one,  and  received,  in 
exchange,  a  most  dazzling  smile;  whereat  Herford 
swore  under  his  breath.  Then  there  descended  upon 
them  all  the  young  women,  from  the  near-by  coaches, 
and  the  young  gentlemen  who  attended,  to  make 
their  devoirs  to  the  Governor's  niece. 

And,  presently,  came  Colonel  Sharpe  himself, 
and  with  him  Sir  Edward  Parkington.  Pinkney 
had  not  failed  the  latter.  His  coat  was  of  dark  blue 
silk  with  embroidered  cuffs,  the  breeches  and  stock 
ings  to  match;  his  waistcoat,  of  white  broadcloth, 
covered  with  gold  lace.  His  hair  was  dressed  and 
powdered,  and  tied  in  a  bagwig  behind.  A  soli 
taire  was  round  his  neck ;  a  kevernois  hat,  decorated 
with  gold  buttons,  lace  and  loop,  was  under  his 
arm ;  and  a  long  black  rapier  lifted  the  skirt  of  his 
coat. 

**  My  dear,"  said  Colonel  Sharpe,  "  I  want  to 
present  Sir  Edward  Parkington,  whom  you  have 
heard  me  mention,  and  for  whom  I  bespeak  your 
best  consideration." 

Miss  Stirling  gave  him  her  hand;  Parkington 
bowed  over  it  with  inimitable  grace. 

"  Sir  Edward  is  very  lucky  in  his  sponsor,"  she 
said ;  "  his  Excellency's  wishes  are  our  law.  Mr. 
Paca,  will  you  present  Sir  Edward  to  our  friends." 

He  met  them  all,  then  came  back  to  her. 


THE  RACES  89 

"  I  think  I  saw  you  in  the  Row,  one  day  last 
Autumn,"  he  said.  "  You  were  riding  with  Captain 
Symington,  of  the  Blues  ;  I  was  riding  with  my  Lord 
Baltimore." 

She  shook  her  head.  "  I  have  not  the  honor  of 
Captain  Symington's  acquaintance;  it  was  not  I." 

"  It  may  be  I  am  mistaken  as  to  Symington,  but 
I  cannot  be  mistaken  as  to  you ;  once  seen  is  never 
to  be  forgotten." 

"  Are  you  sure  it  was  last  Autumn  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Perfectly,  oh,  perfectly  !  " 

"  Then,  you  must  guess  again,"  she  said.  "  I 
have  not  ridden  in  the  Row  for  a  year.  I  spent  all 
of  last  Autumn  in  the  North." 

"  But  I  saw  you  somewhere,  sometime,"  he  in 
sisted. 

"  What  matters  it  ?  "  she  asked ;  "  since  you  see 
me  now. — There,  the  second  heat  is  starting !  " 

This  time  there  were  but  three — Britannia, 
Merry  Andrew  and  Terror  had  been  distanced — 
and,  again,  the  three  ran  close  together  until  they 
reached  the  stretch,  for  the  last  time.  Then  Trial 
came  away,  and,  under  a  tremendous  drive,  won 
by  length  from  Figaro,  with  Chester  third. 

"  The  favorite  seems  outclassed,"  said  Parking- 
ton.  "  The  weight  is  just  a  trifle  too  much,  I 
fancy." 

"  You  do  not  know  Figaro,"  said  Mr.  Paca.  "  I 
will  wager  you  five  pistoles,  that  he  gets  the  next 
heat." 


40  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  Taken.  The  weight  will  tell  more  upon  him 
the  next  time." 

"  Again,  you  do  not  know  Figaro ! "  laughed 
Paca.  "  It  will  tell  less — or,  rather,  it  will  tell  on 
the  others  more.  Figaro  has  lost  two  heats,  before, 
but  he  never  lost  the  third." 

"  Mr.  Paca  says  that  Figaro  has  raced  in  Eng 
land,  at  Carlisle  and  Preston  three  years  ago,  and 
won  everything,"  said  Miss  Stirling.  "  Did  you 
know  it?" 

"  Great  Heavens ! "  exclaimed  Parkington. 
"  This  is  not  that  Figaro?  " 

"  The  same,"  said  Mr.  Paca. 

"  I  would  never  have  wagered  against  him,  had 
I  known  it.  However,  there  is  always  a  chance  of 
the  horse  falling  dead  in  the  stretch,  or  of  some 
thing  else  happening;  and  past  records  never  win 
the  next  race." 

"  I  will  lay  you  another  five  pistoles,  if  you  wish," 
offered  Mr.  Worthington. 

"  And  I ! — And  I !  "  came  from  around  him. 

"  Such  unanimity  of  opinion  breeds  caution," 
said  Parkington,  with  a  laugh ;  "  and  I  will  profit 
by  it.  No  more,  gentlemen,  no  more." 

"  Captain  Herford,"  said  Miss  Stirling,  "  I  will 
have  another  little  bet  on  Figaro.  Will  you  place 
these  two  pistoles  for  me?  " 

"  At  what  odds  ?  "  said  Herford. 

"  Whatever  you  can  get ;  they  ought  to  be  about 
even,  now." 


THE  RACES  41 

"  You  too,  then,  believe  in  Figaro?  "  asked  Park- 
ington. 

"  I  do,"  she  said ;  "  six  pistoles  at  three  to  one, 
five  pistoles  at  two  to  one,  and  two  pistoles  at  even 
odds — it  will  keep  me  in  spending  money  for  a 
few  weeks." 

"  Or  make  you  without  spending  money  for  a 
month." 

"  I  shall  not  lose,"  she  said ;  "  I  shall  not  lose. 
....  Ah,  Mr.  Maynadier,  do  you  know  Sir  Ed 
ward  Parkington?" 

Maynadier  turned,  and,  for  a  moment  his  eyes 
rested  on  Sir  Edward  with  an  uncertain  and  hesitat 
ing  recognition.  Then,  he  shook  his  head. 

"  I  do  not  know,"  he  said.  "  There  is  some 
thing  familiar  in  his  face,  yet  I  can  not  say.  I  met 
so  many  people  in  London,  at  one  time,  that  it  is 
difficult  to  remember.  I  trust  Sir  Edward  Park 
ington  will  understand.  But  whether  or  not  we 
have  ever  met  before,  I  am  very  glad  to  meet  him 
now." 

"  I  think  you  are  right,"  said  Sir  Edward,  tak 
ing  Maynadier's  hand ;  "  or,  at  least,  if  we  met,  I 
have  no  recollection  of  it.  Indeed,  I  have  no  recol 
lection  of  having  met  any  one  from  Annapolis — 
much,  as  I  see  now,  to  my  loss." 

"  The  horses  are  at  the  post ! "  exclaimed  Miss 
Stirling,  and  each  was  glad  for  a  moment  of  respite. 

This  time,  Figaro  showed  his  blood.  They  ran 
easily  enough,  and  together,  but  any  one  could  see 


42  THE  IMPOSTOR 

that  the  others  had  shot  their  bolts.  In  the  last 
hundred  yards,  the  red  and  white  of  Dr.  Hammond 
went  to  the  front  and  won  handily. 

"  It  is  Figaro's  race,"  said  Mr.  Paca. 

"  If  he  wins  the  next  heat,"  observed  Sir  Edward. 

"  The  others  are  out  of  it,"  said  Paca.  "  I  am 
sorry,  Sir  Edward,  but  they  are,  and  Figaro  will 
get  better ;  we  have  seen  it  happen  before,  in  other 
races." 

And  Mr.  Paca  was  right.  Figaro  won  the  next 
heat  even  easier  than  the  last,  and  Dr.  Hammond 
led  him  off,  while  the  men  cheered,  and  the  ladies 
waved  their  handkerchiefs. 

"  Will  you  ride  back  with  us  ?  "  Miss  Stirling 
asked,  as  Maynadier  made  his  adieu. 

"  And  have  myself  put  down  as  rival  to  these 
young  men,"  he  said,  with  a  smile. 

"  What  do  you  care,  since  you  are  not." 

"  True  enough,  but  the  public  would  not  believe 
it." 

"  The  public  believes  what  suits  it." 

"  Just  so,  but  it  does  not  suit  me  that  the  public 
should  have  any  cause  to  believe  me  smitten." 

"  You  care  for  the  public  ?  "  she  said. 

"  Yes  and  no.  No,  where  there  is  truth  behind 
it;  yes,  when  it  is  foundationless." 

"  You  are  frank,"  she  said. 

"  Such  was  our  compact." 

"  And  is  it,  then,  so  great  a  disgrace  to  have  it 
said  you  rode  beside  my  carriage  ?  " 


THE  RACES  43 

"  If  they  would  stop  with  that,  no ;  but  they  will 
not.  I  will  ride  beside  your  carriage  any  time, 
when  you  are  alone;  I  will  not  jostle  for  a  place 
with  any  one." 

"  Then  you  will  never  ride,  I  fear." 

"  I  know  it ;  I  shall  never  ride." 

She  looked  at  him  with  an  artless  smile,  that  was 
the  refinement  of  coquetry. 

"  I  shall  see  you  at  the  dance,  to-night  ?  "  she 
asked. 

"  I  shall  be  there." 

"  I  have  saved  the  third  for  you.  You  do  not  de 
serve  it,  but  I  saved  it,  none  the  less." 

He  bowed  low.    "  Only  the  third?  " 

"  Only  the  third,"  she  said,  as  the  coach  rolled 
away. 

"  And  what  have  you  saved  for  me  ?  "  said  Park- 
ington,  who  overheard  the  last  words. 

"  Whatever  you  like,"  she  answered,  "  except  the 
third." 

"  Then  I  take  as  many  as  I  may ;  I  want  them 
all." 

"  You  are  modest,"  she  said. 

"  You  are  the  first  that  ever  told  me  so." 

"  And  am  likely  to  be  the  last,"  she  retorted. 

"  You  said  that  you  would  give  no  dances  before 
the  ball,"  Captain  Herford  interposed. 

"I  did,"  she  admitted;  "but,  then,  I  did  not 
know  of  our  guest  from  England.  The  dance  I 
have  given  Mr.  Maynadier,  you  may  charge  up  to 


44  THE  IMPOSTOR 

the  right  that  every  woman  has  to  change  her 
mind." 

He  leaned  down  to  the  carriage  door.  "  Change 
your  mind  for  me,"  he  said. 

She  appeared  to  ponder,  as  though  undecided. 

"  Just  one,"  he  pleaded,  "  just  one !  " 

"  Just  one,  then,"  she  said,  with  a  captivating 
smile. 

She  turned  to  Parkington,  who  rode  on  the  other 
side  of  the  coach;  as  a  guest,  of  course,  he  had  the 
place  without  a  struggle. 

"  How  long  are  you  from  London?  "  she  asked. 

"  Ten  weeks." 

"  Who  came  out  with  you — any  one  of  promi 
nence?  " 

"  No ;  mainly  shop-keepers  and  the  like — a  most 
uninteresting  lot." 

"  You  must  have  had  a  pleasant  ten  weeks !  "  she 
laughed. 

"  I  tried  to  make  the  best  of  it.  Some  amuse 
ment  is  to  be  got  of  a  row  of  graven  images,  if  one 
try  hard  enough;  and,  even  a  shop-keeper  beats  a 
graven  image." 

"  Tell  me  of  your  shipwreck,"  said  she. 

"  I  have  forgotten,"  he  said;  "  forgotten  every 
thing  but  the  salt  water — I  swallowed  so  much,  I 
can  taste  it  still." 

"  It  shall  be  the  business  of  Annapolis  to  oblit 
erate  the  taste." 

"  It  is  obliterated,  now,"  he  said,  bending  down. 


THE  RACES  45 

"  Henceforth,  Annapolis  follows  after  London,  with 
nothing  whatever  between — and  you  are  An 
napolis." 

"  Oh,  no !  I  am  not.  I  have  nothing  to  do  with 
Annapolis,  other  than  as  a  guest." 

"  That  should  make  you  kind  to  the  stranger." 

"  If  the  stranger  be  kind  to  me,"  she  said,  archly ; 
then,  before  he  could  make  answer,  added :  "  Take 
supper  with  us,  this  evening.  You  can  retire  in 
time  to  change  your  clothes  for  the  Ball." 

"  Gladly,"  he  exclaimed,  "  gladly !  Though,  as 
to  clothes,  this  suit  will  have  to  pass;  Pinkney  can 
get  me  no  more  for  a  day  or  two.  Even  this  was 
a  great  favor." 

"  You  should  hope,  sir,  that  the  rest  will  be  as 
becoming,"  she  murmured,  as  the  coach  drew  up. 

"  Good-bye,"  she  said,  waving  her  fan  to  Mr. 
Paca  and  Captain  Herford  and  Mr.  Worthington; 
"  I  will  see  you  at  the  Ball,  to-night." 

And,  giving  Sir  Edward  her  hand,  they  went  up 
the  steps,  and  into  the  mansion. 


IV 


THE    MARBURYS 

SIR  EDWARD  PARKINGTON  slept  late,  the  follow 
ing  morning.  When  he  awoke,  the  sun  was  high 
above  the  Severn,  and  busy  Annapolis  was  well  into 
another  day. 

For  a  while,  he  lay  and  watched  the  golden  light 
as  it  flickered  through  the  leaves,  now  here,  now 
there,  frisking  about  on  the  carpet  like  a  sprite. 

"  Well,  Sir  Edward,  you  are  enjoying  yourself," 
he  said,  with  a  bit  of  a  smile.  "  You  danced  every 
dance,  and  you  went  in  to  supper  with  Miss  Stirling. 
Every  one,  from  the  Governor  down,  did  his  best 
to  entertain  you,  except  that  fool  Herford,  and  he 
is  jealous.  I  compliment  you,  sir,  upon  the  favor 
able  impression  you  have  made But,  where 

the  devil,  have  I  seen  that  fellow  Maynadier,  be 
fore?  Somewhere,  I  am  perfectly  sure,  but  where? 
— where  ?  And  I  cannot  make  out  whether  he  recog 
nized  only  something  familiar  about  me,  or  whether 
he  did  not  recognize  me  at  all.  At  any  rate,  I  hope 
it  was  the  latter.  Herford  is  one  with  whom  I 
would  best  be  careful — not  for  what  he  knows,  but 
on  general  principles.  He  is  in  love  with  Miss 
Stirling,  and  cannot  see  she  does  not  care  a  rap  for 
him.  With  Maynadier,  it  is  a  casual  interest,  noth 
ing  more.  He  would  not  cross  the  street  to  make 
46 


THE  MARBURYS  47 

sure  of  her.  And,  even  if  he  knew  I  was  a  mas- 
querader,  I  question  whether  he  would  do  more 
than  to  warn  me  out  of  Maryland.  With  Herford, 
it  is  very  different;  he  would  proclaim  me,  from 
the  State  House,  as  an  impostor  and  a  thief — and 
all  because  of  Mistress  Martha  Stirling!  Well, 
for  that  I  cannot  blame  him.  She  is  marvelously 
pretty,  and  an  arrant  flirt.  She  cares  no  more  for 
me  than  she  does  for  Herford ;  but  I  can  see  it,  and 
he  cannot.  The  girl  annoys  me,  too,  with  her  self- 
complacency;  she  is  so  frank  withal,  and  yet  so 
alluring.  I  do  not  wonder  that  she  has  all  the 
young  men,  of  the  town,  bound  to  her  chariot's 
wheels.  She  has  started  to  bind  me. — Good,  we 
shall  see  who  is  bound,  when  the  binding  cease." 

He  stretched,  and  yawned;  then  arose,  dressed 
himself,  and  went  down  to  the  Coffee-house  for 
breakfast. 

"  It's  a  fine  day,  sir,"  said  Sparrow,  as  he  took 
his  order. 

"  Now  that  you  draw  my  attention  to  it,  I  ob 
serve  that  it  is  a  very  fine  day."  Then  he  laughed. 
"  Sparrow,  why  is  it  that  every  innkeeper  says  the 
same  thing  to  a  guest — a  fine  day  or  a  nasty  day, 
as  the  case  may  be?  It  is  neither  informing  nor 
original.  Why,  the  devil,  do  you  not  get  a  new 
greeting?  " 

"  I  don't  know,  sir — I  don't  know.  It  is  easy  to 
say,  and  does  not  give  offense.  You  are  the  first, 


48  THE  IMPOSTOR 

begging  your  pardon,  sir,  who  ever  found  fault  with 
it.     I  used  the  same  in  London." 

"  You  come  from  London  ?  "  said  Sir  Edward, 
carelessly. 

"  Three  years  ago,  on  Saint  Jamina's  day  last 
past.  I  remember  I  waited  on  you  one  night  at  the 
Golden  Lion." 

"  Your  memory  is  better  than  mine,"  looking  at 
him  more  closely. 

"  Like  enough — like  enough,  sir.  It  is  much 
more  natural  that  I  should  remember.  I  dare  say, 
you  did  not  so  much  as  look  at  me." 

Parkington  shook  his  head. 

"  Who  else  was  in  the  party?  "  he  said. 

"  I  did  not  know  any  of  them,  sir,  you  or  any  of 
the  others.  But  I  knew  your  face  the  moment  I 
clapped  eyes  on  it,  last  evening." 

"  Oh,  I  see,"  breathing  easy,  again. 

His  breakfast  finished,  Sir  Edward  paid  his  score, 
and  was  escorted  to  the  door  by  Sparrow,  who  bowed 
him  out. 

For  a  little  while,  he  watched  the  people,  the 
tradesmen,  mechanics  and  shopkeepers,  who  made 
Church  Street  and  the  dock  below  it  the  busiest 
place  in  America. 

This  was  the  business  section.  All  trade  was 
confined  within  its  limits.  There  was  no  trespassing 
on  Prince  George  Street,  or  King  George,  or 
Tabernacle,  or  Duke  of  Gloucester,  or  Charles,  or 
North-East  Streets ;  they  were  reserved  for  the  aris- 


THE  MARBURYS  49 

tocracy.  The  land  along  them  belonged  to  the 
Bordleys,  the  Collohans,  the  Ogles,  and  the  Lloyds, 
the  Pacas,  the  Brices  and  the  Taskers,  the  two 
Charles  Carrolls,  the  Worthingtons,  the  Hammonds 
and  the  Ridouts.  They  cared  for  no  intrusion  on 
their  privacy ;  and,  on  occasion  of  a  rout  or  ball  at 
their  town  houses,  they  roped  off  the  street  in  which 
it  was  located,  to  keep  the  common  people  out. 

Presently,  Parkington  sauntered  up  Church 
Street  to  the  Circle,  and,  attracted  by  a  large 
placard  which  was  posted  on  the  church,  he  crossed 
to  read  it: 

It  was  a  notice  by  the  wardens  of  the  parish. 

"  All  the  laws  of  the  Province  and  the  English 
statutes  relating  to  religious  worship,  particularly 
Section  14,  Chapter  2,  of  First  Elizabeth,  oblige 
all  persons  not  having  a  lawful  excuse  to  resort  to 
their  parish  church  or  chapel  on  every  Sunday, 
and  on  other  days  ordained  to  be  kept  as  holy 
days,  and  then  and  there  to  abide  in  decent 
manner  during  the  time  of  common  prayer, 
preaching  or  other  services  of  God." 

"  Rather  unusual,"  said  young  Mr.  Brice's  voice, 
behind  him. 

"  I  never  saw  its  like  before,"  said  Parkington. 
"  I  thought  Annapolis  was  a  particularly  religious 
town." 

"  I  guess  religion  is  all  right ;  it  is  simply  the 
observance  of  it  that  has  gone  to  decay.  Would 
4 


50  THE  IMPOSTOR 

not  you  like  to  see  our  Courts  in  session?  Come 
along." 

They  cut  through  School  Street  and  came  out  on 
the  Public  Circle,  in  the  centre  of  which  stood  the 
dilapidated  State  House. 

"  This  building  is  a  disgrace  to  the  Colony," 
said  Mr.  Brice.  "  It  is  high  time  we  were  getting 
another." 

"  We  have  just  as  bad  in  London,"  said  Park- 
ington. 

They  entered  by  a  hall  and  went  into  the  court 
room,  opposite  to  the  door  of  which  was  the  judge's 
seat,  with  the  full  length  portrait  of  Queen  Anne, 
presenting  a  charter  to  the  City,  high  above  it. 
Young  Brice's  father,  John  Brice,  the  Chief  Justice 
of  the  Province,  was  presiding,  in  robes  of  scarlet 
faced  with  black  velvet,  and,  as  they  entered,  he 
was  sentencing  a  man,  convicted  of  manslaughter, 
to  be  branded  in  the  hand  with  the  letter  M.  Im 
mediately  after,  another  was  called,  who  had  been 
convicted  of  horse  stealing,  and  sentenced  to  death. 

"  It  seems  to  me,"  said  Parkington,  "  that  there 
is  no  justice  in  such  punishments.  There  is  too 
much  difference  in  them." 

"  Horse  stealing  is  a  felony*,"  said  Mr.  Brice ; 
"  and  all  felonies  are  punishable  with  death." 

"  I  know.  But  why  should  you  hang  a  man  be 
cause  he  stole  something?  You  hang  a  man  for 
murder,  you  hang  a  man  for  theft ;  surely,  the  two 
crimes  do  not  justify  the  same-  punishment." 


THE  MARBURYS  51 

"  I  think  you  are  right,  and  that  we  will  come 
to  it  in  time.  Indeed,  I  think  my  father  is  of  the 
same  opinion,  though  he  has  no  power  to  change  it. 
Listen  to  this  case ;  the  defendant  has  plead  guilty." 

"  Mr.  Prosecutor,"  said  the  judge,  "  let  me  have 
the  indictment.  John  Farrin,  stand  up.  You  have 
plead  guilty  to  as  dastardly  and  cowardly  a  crime 
as  I  have  ever  known.  You  have  disfigured  your 
wife  for  life  and,  possibly,  crippled  her  as  well. 
You  liave  cut  off  both  her  ears  and  one  of  her  toes. 
I  greatly  regret  that  the  law  is  such  I  cannot  inflict 
adequate  punishment  upon  you.  I  wish  I  could  send 
you  to  prison  for  ten  years.  As  it  is,  I  will  give 
you  the  limit.  The  sentence  of  the  Court  is,  that 
you  undergo  a  year's  imprisonment,  and  then  to  find 
security  for  good  behavior.  Adjourn  the  Court 
until  two  o'clock." 

Meanwhile,  in  the  garden  of  the  Governor's  resi 
dence,  Martha  Stirling  was  entertaining  visitors. 
Jane  Falconer  and  Edith  Tyler  were  her  particular 
friends,  and  they  had  come  over,  from  their  homes 
on  Prince  George  Street,  to  discuss  the  aftermath 
of  the  ball,  on  the  previous  night. 

"  Martha,"  said  Miss  Falconer,  "  I  do  not  wonder 
that  Captain  Herford  was  jealous.  The  way  you 
carried  on  with  Sir  Edward  Parkington  was  really 
scandalous." 

"  And  what  was  yours,  my  dear?  " 

"  Mine?  " 


52  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  Yes,  yours,"  said  Miss  Stirling ;  "  as  I  remem 
ber,  you  and  Edith  were  with  him  just  as  much  as 
I — or,  perhaps,  a  little  less." 

Miss  Tyler  laughed.  "  A  little  less !  "  she  said. 
"  He  danced  with  me  but  once.  How  many  times 
did  he  favor  you  ?  " 

"  Oh,  two  or  three." 

"  Indeed !  Six  or  eight  I  should  say,  and  nearer 
the  latter  than  the  former." 

"  That  sounds  like  jealousy." 

"Oh,  no,  it  does  not!"  said  Miss  Tyler.  "I 
care  nothing  for  Sir  Edward,  beyond  the  fact  that 
he  is  an  agreeable  partner.  Indeed,  I  do  not  care 
enough  to  flirt  with  him." 

"  Nor  I,"  said  Miss  Falconer. 

"  Well,  girls,  I  am  glad  to  hear  you  say  so," 
Miss  Stirling  observed,  "  for  I  intend  to  flirt  with 
him  outrageously." 

"  Last  night,  for  instance?  "  said  Miss  Tyler. 

"  Last  night  was  only  a  beginning." 

"  So  far  as  I  observed,"  said  Miss  Falconer, 
"  Sir  Edward  is  ready  to  meet  you  more  than  half 
way." 

Miss  Stirling  laughed.  "  Such  was  my  observa 
tion,  too.  At  the  same  time,  I  observed  that  young 
Mr.  Marbury  was  exceedingly  attentive,"  looking 
at  Miss  Tyler. 

"  To  me,  do  you  mean?  Perhaps — but  it  has 
gone  on  so  long  as  not  to  occasion  comment.  I  am 


THE  MARBURYS  53 

sorry  for  George — a  nice  fellow  but  with  impossible 
parents." 

"Who  are  the  Marburys?"  said  Miss  Stirling. 

"  Nobodies,"  said  Miss  Tyler.  "  So  far  as  I 
know  them,  this  is  their  history:  Henry  Marbury 
came  out  from  England,  as  a  Redemptioner.  They 
freed  him  in  four  years,  with  the  usual  allowance 
of  a  year's  provision  of  corn,  fifty  acres  of  land,  a 
gun,  a  pistol  and  ammunition.  The  land  was  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Frederick-Town:  there,  Marbury 
went,  and  his  old  master  supposed  that  Annapolis 
had  seen  the  last  of  him.  But  Marbury  prospered ; 
his  fifty  acres  expanded  into  two  hundred  and 
fifty,  and,  then,  into  a  thousand,  and,  then,  into 
five  thousand.  His  personal  property  grew  in  pro 
portion  ;  he,  himself,  possessed  Redemptioner  and 
convict  servants,  by  the  score.  In  short,  he  amassed 
great  wealth.  Then,  his  thoughts  turned  back 
to  Annapolis;  he  brought  the  family  here,  and  in 
stalled  them  in  a  fine  house  on  Duke  of  Gloucester 
Street.  Since  which  time,  he  has  struggled  for 
recognition;  while  he  has  not  earned  it  for  himself 
or  wife,  young  George  Marbury  and  his  sister 
Judith  are  received,  and  we  all  like  them.  They 
know  their  parents'  limitations  but  they  are  not 
ashamed ;  to  them,  they  are  Marburys,  without  any 
claim  to  social  recognition  or  regard.  They  have 
won  it  for  themselves." 

"  Just  as  our  ancestors  won  it  in  the  past,"  ob 
served  Miss  Falconer.  "  They  may  not  have  been 


54  THE  IMPOSTOR 

Redemptioners,  but  that  was  because  there  was  no 
one  here  to  buy  them." 

"  Is  not  that  a  bit  sweeping,  Jane?  "  said  Miss 
Tyler. 

"  Well,  perhaps  it  is ;  but  I  know  people  in  this 
Colony  who  forget  their  ancestors  after  a  few 
generations." 

"  And  so  do  I — and,  since  they  wish  them  forgot, 
let  us  forget  them." 

"  It  is  this  about  the  Marburys — the  old  people, 
I  mean — which  I  admire,"  said  Miss  Stirling :  "  they 
are  perfectly  natural.  They  may  use  some  large 
words  improperly,  or  fracture  a  canon  of  good 
taste,  but  they  are  genuine  withal.  They  are  not 
snobs.  As  for  George  Marbury  and  Judith,  I  have 
met  none  in  Annapolis  who  are  nicer.  Young  Mr. 
Marbury  told  me,  last  night,  they  are  considering 
the  entertaining  of  a  large  company  at  a  country 
house,  somewhere,  which  they  have  bought  recently. 
He  seemed  a  bit  timid  about  it,  rather  fearful  that 
those  he  asked  might  be  averse  to  coming.  I 
promptly  said,  if  he  and  his  sister  should  ask  me, 
I  would  come." 

"  Oh !  there  will  be  no  trouble  on  that  score — 
we  all  will  come,"  said  Miss  Falconer.  "  It  is 
Hedgely  Hall,  over  in  St.  Mary's  County.  The 
last  Saxton  died  about  two  years  ago,  and  it  was 
sold  to  the  Marburys  by  his  executors.  It  is  on 
the  banks  of  the  Patuxent,  and  as  pretty  a  place  as 
there  is  in  the  Colony." 


THE  MARBURYS  55 

"  Exit  the  Saxtons,  enter  the  Marburys,"  said 
Miss  Tyler,  sententiously. 

"  Why,  Edith !  "  exclaimed  Miss  Falconer.  "  I 
never  imagined  you  disliked  the  Marburys." 

"  And  I  do  not,"  said  Miss  Tyler,  "  I  do  not ; 
but  it  grieves  me  to  see  the  old  families  dying  out 
and  the  new  ones  coming  in." 

"  Which  being  the  case,  however,  and  we  unable 
to  prevent  it,  what  do  you  say  to  a  row  on  the 
river?  "  Miss  Stirling  broke  in. 

They  went  down  to  the  wharf  at  the  foot  of  the 
garden.  A  word  to  the  boat-master,  and,  presently, 
the  Governor's  barge  shot  out,  manned  by  eight 
negroes,  in  the  red  and  gray  of  his  Excellency's 
colors.  Miss  Stirling  bade  the  'Others  aboard,  and 
herself  took  the  tiller. 

"  Straight  away  !  "  she  ordered. 

The  blacks  bent  to  their  work,  while  the  young 
ladies  settled  back  among  the  cushions,  under  the 
awning,  and  gossiped.  Presently,  when  the  waves 
of  the  Bay  began  to  roll,  the  barge  was  put  about 
and  headed  up  the  Severn. 

They  were  just  opposite  the  Governor's  grounds, 
when  a  boat,  running  with  astonishing  swiftness, 
rushed  by  them,  a  hundred  yards  away.  It  was  an 
Indian  canoe,  fitted  with  a  keel,  two  leg  o'  mutton 
sails  and  a  jib,  and  seemed  fairly  to  skim  the  water. 

"  George  Marbury  ?  "  said  Miss  Stirling. 

"It  is,"  said  Miss  Tyler;  "and  that  boat  will 
be  the  death  of  him,  yet." 


56  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"Wherefore?  "  asked  Miss  Stirling.  *'  It  seems 
to  me  to  be  uncommonly  speedy.  I  shall  ask  him 
to  take  me  in  it,  sometime." 

"  If  you  are  in  search  of  death,  it  were  well  do  so. 
It  is  swift — as  swift  and  fast  as  any  craft  afloat, 
and,  also,  the  most  dangerous.  The  ease  with  which 
it  can  capsize  is  miraculous." 

"  Then  he  is  handling  it  marvelously  well." 

"  He  handles  it  as  well  as  any  man  could  possibly 
do,  but  that  is  not  enough — it,  simply,  gives  him  a 
little  chance.  Were  he  a  poor  sailor,  he  would  not 
get  twenty  feet  from  the  dock.  Now,  watch  him; 
he  is  going  to  tack  across  our  front.  Let  the 

wind  veer,  ever  so  little,  and  the  chances  are 

There,  what  did  I  tell  you  !  "  as,  without  a  moment's 
warning,  the  canoe  capsized.  "  Row  for  it,  boys ! 
row!" 

They  found  Marbury  holding  to  the  canoe  with 
one  hand,  while,  with  the  other,  he  was  endeavoring 
to  support  Sir  Edward  Parkington,  who,  in  the 
overturning,  had  been  struck  on  the  head  and  ren 
dered  unconscious. 

"  It  is  nothing ! "  Marbury  averred,  when  they 
were  dragged  aboard  the  barge.  "  Parkington  has 
got  a  rap  on  the  head,  and  he  shipped  a  bit  too  much 
water,  that's  all.  He  will  come  out  of  it  in  a 
moment,  if  you  women  give  him  a  chance — all  he 
wants  is  air." 

"  What  do  you  suppose  he  would  have  wanted,  if 


THE  MARBURYS  57 

we  had  not  been  close  by  when  you  capsized?  "  in 
quired  Miss  Tyler. 

"  I  am  not  called  upon  to  suppose,"  said  Mar- 
bury,  looking  up,  with  a  laugh,  through  his 
disheveled  hair.  "  I  am  very  well  content  as  it  is." 

"  And  you  ought  to  be,  sir !  "  said  Miss  Falconer, 
"  to  take  Sir  Edward  out  in  such  a  crazy  con 
traption." 

"  He  said  he  could  swim,"  Marbury  protested. 
"  He  offered  to  lay  me  five  pistoles,  he  could  out- 
swim  me  across  the  Severn." 

Just  then  Sir  Edward  opened  his  eyes,  stared 
wildly  around,  and  struggled  weakly  to  arise. 

"  Where  am  I?  "  he  gasped ;  "  where  am  I?  " 

"  In  the  Governor's  barge,"  said  Marbury.  "  Lie 
still." 

Sir  Edward' »  eyes  closed;  then,  they  opened 
again. 

"  I  remember,"  he  said,  more  strongly.  "  We 
overturned,  and  something  struck  me.  What  are 
we  doing  in  the  Governor's  barge  ?  " 

"  We  picked  you  up,"  Miss  Stirling  answered. 
"  We  were  fortunate  enough  to  be  close  at  hand." 

Sir  Edward  tried  to  sit  up;  Martha  Stirling 
sprang  forward,  and  let  him  rest  against  her  until 
they  reached  the  wharf.  Then,  in  the  arms  of  two 
stout  boatmen,  he  was  borne  ashore  and  up  to  the 
Governor's  mansion.  Here,  he  struggled  to  his 
feet. 


58  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  Put  me  down !  "  he  said.  "  I  have  sufficiently 
recovered,  and  am,  moreover,  in  no  condition  to  pre 
sent  myself  before  his  Excellency,  or  in  such  com 
pany.  The  ladies  will  accept,  I  know,  my  most 
grateful  thanks  and  humble  service,  and  permit  me 
to  retire,  for  the  time.  Wet  clothes  are  most  un 
comfortable.  I  will  to  my  lodgings.  Mr.  Mar- 
bury,  your  arm." 


HEDGELY  HALL  AND  MARBURY,  SENIOR 

THE  tale  of  the  capsized  canoe  was  at  tne  Coffee 
house,  that  evening,  in  advance  of  them.  Among 
the  young  men,  the  opinion  was  that  it  was  worth  a 
wetting  to  be  rescued  by  the  Governor's  niece  and 
her  companions.  The  older  heads  were  not  so  sure ; 
and  some  were  for  rating  George  Marbury,  soundly, 
for  exposing  one,  who  could  know  nothing  of  the 
danger,  to  the  perils  of  so  hazardous  a  craft. 

But  Parkington,  himself,  soon  set  the  matter 
right  and  took  the  burden  on  himself.  He  had 
gone,  he  said,  fully  warned  of  the  risk,  and  accepted 
the  result  as  his  due — very  much  his  due,  since  the 
overturning  had  been  brought  about  by  his  own 
carelessness  in  shifting  his  weight.  This,  young 
Marbury  had,  of  course,  denied;  and,  there,  it 
rested — though  there  were  those  who,  considering 
the  skill  of  the  one,  and  the  lack  of  it  in  the  other, 
could  place  the  responsibility,  and,  however  it  was, 
neither  of  them  lost  in  public  esteem  by  the  incident. 

The  next  few  weeks  passed  quickly  enough.  Sir 
Edward  was  the  guest,  in  turn,  of  every  one  in 
town,  who  pretended  to  gentility.  He  dined,  among 
others,  at  the  Carrolls',  the  Brices',  the  Ogles',  and 
the  Scotts' ;  he  supped  with  the  Worthingtons,  the 
Ridouts,  and  the  Bordleys;  he  attended  a  rout 

59 


60  THE  IMPOSTOR 

at  Daniel  Dulany's,  and  an  evening  affair  given  for 
him  by  the  Governor,  where  he  was  presented  to  the 
best  that  the  Province  could  boast.  Incidentally, 
he  borrowed  two  hundred  pounds  from  his  Excel 
lency. 

He  held  his  own  at  lou,  bluff  and  piquet,  he 
drank  moderately  and  with  judgment;  he  paid  his 
share,  always,  and  a  bit  besides;  the  clothes,  which 
Pinkney,  the  tailor,  provided,  while  rich  and  fine 
were  neither  unduly  expensive  or  noticeably  ornate. 
Among  a  set  of  young  men,  who  were  noted  for 
the  lavishness  of  their  attire,  his  was  modest  and 
conservative.  In  short,  among  the  men  there  was 
not  a  more  popular  man  in  Annapolis. 

With  the  fair  sex,  he  was  discriminating  and 
impartial  in  his  attention.  Naturally,  as  especially 
committed  by  Lord  Baltimore  to  the  good  offices 
of  his  Excellency,  these  were  bestowed  in  particular 
on  the  Governor's  niece — and  with  that  no  fault 
could  be  found — otherwise,  they  were  weighed  to  a 
nicety.  If  he  led  Miss  Falconer  through  the  min 
uet,  he  contrived  to  show  himself  among  Miss 
Tyler's  most  devoted;  if  he  chanced  to  sit  beside 
Miss  Paca  at  dinner,  he  took  care  to  see  that  due 
court  was  paid  to  Miss  Jennings ;  and,  so,  through 
the  list.  And,  withal,  with  such  skill,  that  never 
did  he  appear  as  doing  it  of  intention — in  fine,  he 
made  friends  with  them  all,  a  thing  hard  to  manage, 
where  one  is  the  most  sought  after  in  the  town. 

Early  June  saw  the  Marbury  house-party  assem- 


HEDGELY  HALL  AND  MARBURY,  SB.  61 

bled  at  Hedgely  Hall.  They  went  by  water,  from 
Annapolis,  in  their  host's  own  schooner,  and  landed 
directly  at  the  plantation  on  the  Patuxent  River. 
There  had  been  few  declinations,  and  these  only  by 
men  who  were  held  in  the  Capital  by  business.  The 
ladies  included  Miss  Stirling,  Miss  Fordyce,  Miss 
Tyler,  Miss  Jennings,  the  men,  Sir  Edward  Park- 
ington,  Mr.  Paca,  Mr.  Worthington,  Mr.  Constable, 
Captain  Herf ord ;  in  addition,  the  Platers,  who  had 
been  recently  married  were  to  come  from  Sotterly, 
a  short  distance  away,  and  the  Snowdens  from 
Montpelier. 

Hedgely  Hall  was  one  of  the  handsomest  places  in 
Maryland.  Rebuilt  by  John  Hedgely,  as  a  wedding 
gift  to  his  bride,  she  had  barely  entered  its  doors 
when  a  fatal  illness  seized  her  and  she  died.  He 
never  married  again,  (though  there  were  many 
damsels  willing)  and  persisted  in  declining  all  office 
under  the  government.  He  had  no  town  house,  and 
rarely  resorted  to  Annapolis.  When  he  did,  it 
was  for  a  very  brief  time.  He  devoted  himself  to 
his  estate,  and  lavished  on  it  his  care  and  affection. 
When  he  died,  and  his  executors  came  to  take 
account,  it  was  discovered  that  he  had  also  lavished 
on  it  most  of  his  fortune.  This,  with  the  further 
fact  that  his  next  heir  was  a  cousin  in  Virginia, 
with  a  plantation  of  his  own,  and  nothing  to  make 
him  abandon  it  in  favor  of  an  inheritance  on  the 
Patuxent,  led  to  its  sale. 

And   Henry   Marbury,   having  the   ready   cash, 


62  THE  IMPOSTOR 

coupled  with  an  ardent  desire  to  acquire,  became  the 
purchaser.  In  justice  to  him,  let  it  be  understood, 
that  he  sought  not  to  enter  the  great  world.  He 
bought  it  for  his  son,  and  a  fitting  place  from 
which  his  daughter  could  be  married.  He  hoped 
that  she  would  marry  above  her  class ;  he  proposed 
that  she  should,  if  money  could  effect  it;  but  he 
knew,  in  his  shrewd,  hard-headed  way,  that  much 
of  the  success  of  his  plans  rested  upon  the  girl  her 
self.  As  for  George,  he  looked  to  him  to  marry 
well  and  found  a  family.  He  himself  was  an  out 
sider,  and  always  would  be.  George  was  to  be  the 
first  of  the  new  line — the  Marbury,  of  Hedgely 
Hall. 

It  is  astonishing  what  the  possession  of  a  coun 
try-seat  of  known  fame  will  make  for  gentility,  even 
where  one  has  small  claim.  And  George  Marbury 
and  his  sister  Judith  had  the  ways  and  appearance 
of  the  gentle-born.  Somewhere,  in  the  past,  a 
forebear  must  have  been  of  the  class. 

As  for  the  Hall  itself:  the  approach  was  by  a 
great  avenue,  a  hundred  and  twenty  feet  wide, 
lined  on  either  side  by  tulip  and  poplar  trees,  that 
extended  from  the  Patuxent,  half  a  mile  away. 
The  house  was  of  English  brick,  large  and  square, 
with  wings  which  served  for  offices  and  bachelor 
quarters,  the  kitchen  and  the  store  rooms.  A  huge 
hall  ran  directly  through  it,  with  the  drawing  room 
on  the  right,  the  library  and  dining  room  on  the 
left.  The  walls  were  of  wood,  panelled  and  done  in 


HEDGELY  HALL  AND  MARBURY,  SB.  63 

white,  and  covered  with  paintings  and  portraits 
(the  latter,  alas,  not  of  the  Marbury  s,  but  of 
Hedgelys  dead  and  gone).  The  ceiling,  doors, 
window-frames  and  mantels  were  carved  in  ara 
besque.  Behind  the  dining-room,  and  opening 
from  it,  was  a  huge  conservatory.  Back  of  the 
house,  or  in  front,  if  you  choose,  for  these  houses 
had  no  rear,  was  a  long  sweep  of  velvety  lawn,  drop 
ping  away  in  terrace  on  terrace,  with  hedges  of 
box  and  privet,  and  beds  of  roses,  lilies  of  the 
valley  and  lavender  scattered  among  daffodils, 
heart's  ease,  cowslip  and  jonquils.  Beyond  lay  the 
park,  with  great  trees,  reaching  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  see.  Two  thousand  acres  and  more  was  the 
Hall's  domain,  of  tobacco  and  wheat  fields,  meadow 
and  orchard,  all  cultivated  with  a  thoroughness 
which  old  Marbury  had  learned,  in  the  lean  years, 
when  he  was  struggling  upward  to  wealth. 

As  for  old  Marbury,  himself,  he  was  not  exactly 
what  Miss  Tyler  had  termed,  "  impossible." 
Difficult  was  nearer  the  proper  term.  He  was 
brusque  of  manner  and  sparing  of  words,  and  his 
ways  were  not  engaging,  but,  underneath,  was  a 
kindly  spirit  and  an  honest  heart.  He  would  not 
have  shone  amid  the  wits  of  the  Coffee-house  (had 
he  ever  ventured  there),  nor  did  he  at  his  own  board, 
after  the  cloth  was  gone  and  the  wine  was  on.  And 
he  knew  it,  and  was  silent — or,  as  was  generally  the 
case,  he  retired,  and  George  took  his  place  at  the 
head  of  the  table. 


64  THE  IMPOSTOR 

And,  as  old  Marbury  did,  so  did  his  wife.  They 
were  well  mated.  The  affairs  of  the  household,  and 
the  more  onerous  duties,  she  assumed  and  executed, 
the  lighter  graces  were  laid  on  Judith's  shoulders. 
And,  to  their  credit,  be  it  said,  that  no  host  or 
hostess  in  Annapolis  was  more  at  ease,  or  had  more 
of  the  savoir  faire,  and  knew  how  to  use  it,  than 
this  son  and  daughter  of  the  Redemptioner. 

And,  now,  was  their  test : — asking  guests  for  din 
ner  or  supper  was  vastly  different  from  having  them 
in  the  house  for  a  week.  This  party  marked  their 
first  appearance,  in  a  social  sense,  among  the  landed 
families  of  the  Province. 

They  had  arrived  at  Hedgely  Hall  two  hours  be 
fore  supper;  the  ladies  retired  to  their  rooms  to 
rest,  the  men  to  whatever  place  pleased  their  fancy. 
It  was  a  sultry  day  in  May,  when  the  first  heat  of 
the  coming  summer  seems  doubly  warm. 

Martha  Stirling  had  been  sitting  by  her  window, 
which  gave  view  of  the  garden  and  park,  idly  drum 
ming  on  the  sill,  her  thoughts  of  Sir  Edward  Park- 
ington.  She  had  seen  much  of  him  in  the  last  few 
weeks.  She  was  debating  whether  it  was  wise  to 
see  so  much  of  him  in  the  future.  He  was,  to  be 
sure,  vouched  for  by  Lord  Baltimore,  which  might 
stand  with  the  Governor  and  the  men,  but  was 
not  especially  in  his  favor  so  far  as  the  gentle  sex 
was  concerned.  Not  that  there  was  the  slightest 
ground  for  suspicion — on  the  contrary,  his  conduct 
had  been  most  circumspect.  But  was  it  well  to 


HEDGELY  HALL  AND  MARBURY,  SR.  65 

favor  liim  when  there  were  so  many  who  sought  her? 
For,  with  him  at  her  side,  there  came  a  restraint 
upon  the  rest,  a  deference  to  the  stranger  of  rank. 
She  could  not  play  him  off  against  the  others,  nor 
them  against  him.  She  had  tried  it,  many  times,  and 
always  with  the  same  result — failure.  He  either 
dominated  the  situation  or  else  eliminated  himself 
entirely.  In  either  case,  he  was  the  victor — and  a 
victor,  seemingly,  all  unconscious  of  it.  The  man 
was  tantalizingly  fascinating.  He  could  do  every 
thing  well :  fence,  dance,  play  cards,  make  love,  talk 
sense  or  nonsense.  And  with  it  all,  he  was  handsome 
as  the  devil — and  might  be  the  devil,  for  all  she 
knew — or  the  Governor  knew.  Why,  they  did  not 
know  even  whether  or  not  he  was  married ! 

She  stopped,  amazed.  So  far,  as  she  was  aware, 
no  one  had  ever  thought  about  it, — they  had  as 
sumed  that  he  was  unmarried — and  he  had  let  them 
assume  it.  Was  he  a  blackguard,  or  was  he  a 
gentleman?  She  paused,  and,  in  her  mind,  ran 
back  over  the  occurrences  of  the  last  few  weeks. 
No,  blackguard  he  was  not.  He  had  gone  as  far 
with  her  as  with  any  one — farther,  doubtless — and, 
despite  a  certain  gallantry,  he  had  not  transgressed 
beyond  the  bound,  even  if  he  were  married — and, 
surely,  a  little  could  be  excused  a  man,  travelling 
alone,  in  a  foreign  land. 

She  wondered  if  Mr.  Paca  knew,  or  Mr.  Worth- 
ington,  or  George  Marbury — or  any  of  their  party. 
She  beat  a  tattoo  on  the  window  ledge  and  reflected. 
5 


66  THE  IMPOSTOR 

— She  would  make  it  her  business  to  ascertain.  The 
more  she  thought  of  it,  the  more  she  wanted  to 
know. 

Just  then  she  discerned  Parkington,  himself, 
emerging  from  among  the  trees  of  the  park.  He 
was  coming  slowly,  his  head  on  his  breast,  his 
walking  stick  trailing  behind.  Presently,  he 
stopped,  cast  a  quick  glance  toward  the  house,  and, 
apparently  seeing  no  one,  crossed  to  the  shadow 
of  a  bush  and  flung  himself  on  the  turf. 

Instantly,  Miss  Stirling  arose.  She  was  dressed 
for  the  evening,  but,  womanlike,  she  cast  a  last  look 
in  the  mirror,  pressed  both  hands  to  her  hair,  took 
a  final  dash  of  perfume,  and  went  down  stairs  and 
out.  She  was  going  to  find  out  from  him. 

She  was  quite  sure,  indeed,  it  seemed  the  easiest 
thing  in  the  world  to  ask  him  the  simple  question — 
until  she  came  up  to  it — then,  she  was  not  so  sure, 
nor  did  it  appear  so  easy.  In  fact,  it  was  distinctly 
not  easy — it  was  to  be  approached  gradually,  and 
by  indirection — and,  may  be,  not  to  be  arrived  at 
that  afternoon.  It  was  not  so  simple  a  question: 
are  you  married? — at  least,  not  when  Sir  Edward 
Parkington  was  concerned.  He  had  a  way  about 
him  that  did  not  encourage  familiarity;  a  certain 
set  look  of  the  mouth,  a  gleam  of  the  eye — and  the 
subject  was  pursued  no  further. 

The  turf  deadened  her  footsteps,  and  she  stood, 
for  a  moment,  looking  down  upon  him,  before  he 


HEDGELY  HALL  AND  MARBURY,  Sa.  67 

raised  his  eyes.  Instantly,  he  was  up  and  bowing 
low. 

"Your  pardon,"  he  said;  "I  was  dreaming;  I 
did  not  hear  you." 

"  Dreaming — of  what  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Of  nothing.  Dreams  that  were  without  form 
or  color." 

"  Can  one  dream  nothing?  "  she  inquired,  know 
ing  well  he  equivocated — there  had  been  a  frown  on 
his  face  as  she  approached. 

"  One  always  dreams  nothing — '  such  stuff  as 
dreams  are  made  of.'  Moreover,  the  place  and  the 
hour  impel  it,"  and  he  swung  his  hand  around  him. 

"  It  is  a  fine  old  place,"  she  said,  seeing  he  would 
shift  the  talk. 

He  nodded.  "  A  fine  place,  though  I  should  not 
call  it  old,  at  least,  to  us  English." 

"  All  things  are  relative ;  it  is  old  to  this  country, 
which  is  new.  Just  as  you  are  Sir  Edward  Park- 
ington  and  a  great  man,  here." 

"  While  in  England,  you  mean,"  he  laughed, 
"  I  am  only  one  of  a  vast  number — an  insignificant 
atom  among  the  nobility." 

"  Yes — and  7,  that  am  not  even  noble,  am,  here, 
the  toast  of  a  Province." 

"  In  which  England  joins !  "  with  a  bow. 

"  I  was  proving  a  proposition,  sir,  not  seeking  a 
compliment." 

"  It  is  proven,"  he  said.  "  One  will  admit  any 
thing,  grant  anything,  on  such  an  afternoon  as  this, 


68  THE  IMPOSTOR 

and  with  such  surroundings ;  I  would  give  a  man 
my  last  shilling,  a  woman — if  she  were  prettj — 
my — my  soul." 

"  The  usual  way — the  man  would  get  some 
thing,  the  woman  nothing.  No  woman  wants  your 
soul,  even  were  it  yours  to  give." 

"  Or  even  if  I  had  a  soul,"  he  appended. 

"  Oh,  no !  "  she  said.  "  You  do  not  get  me  to 
arguing  on  that  topic.  No  one  knows,  so  every  one 
believes  what  his  conscience  dictates.  I  am  ortho 
dox,  and  go  along  with  the  Church.  I  do  not  care 
what  you  believe,  and  I  do  not  want  to  know.  So 
far  as  I  am  concerned,  every  one  can  take  care 
of  his  own  hereafter — he  alone  will  have  to  pay 
penalty,  if  he  is  in  error." 

He  listened  with  a  curious  smile.  "  A  bit  ad 
vanced,  my  lady,  for  all  your  orthodoxy.  You 
best  not  tell  your  views  abroad." 

"  My  views  are  for  myself,  alone.  We  women  are 
supposed  to  have  none — to  stay  put,  as  it  were — 
and  I  am  going  to  stay  put ;  but  I  shall  think  what 
I  please."  She  shrugged  her  shoulders,  and 
laughed.  "  Goodness !  what  turned  the  talk  to  re 
ligion — neither  of  us  has  any  to  speak  of." 

"  And,  hence,  we  may  safely  discuss  it  without 
offense  'to  either — it  is  believers  only  who  are  intol- 
erants." 

She  held  up  her  hands  in  protest.  "  No  more, 
I  thank  you.  Let  us  find  a  pleasanter  topic 


HEDGELY  HALL  AND  MARBURY,  SB.  69 

I  heard  you  were  leaving  us  very  soon — for  Phila 
delphia.  Is  it  so  ?  " 

"  This  is  the  first  I  knew  of  it.     Who  told  you?  " 

She  affected  to  think.  "  I,  really,  cannot  re 
member.  Some  one,  in  Annapolis,  but  who  it  was 
I  do  not  know." 

"  Because  it  interested  you  so  little.  " 

"  No — because  I  thought  you  would  have  told 
me,  were  it  true.  Yet,  why  should  you  not  be  mov 
ing  on — one  does  not  visit  America  to  see  only  one 
place?" 

"  No,  I  suppose  not ;  I  must  move  on,  sometime, 
but  I  am  in  no  haste,  I  assure  you.  I  came  to 
America,  intending  to  loiter  indefinitely."  There 
was  a  queer  smile  on  his  face.  He  was  thinking 
of  his  father's  parting  admonition. 

She  did  not  observe  the  smile — and  it  would  have 
conveyed  nothing  to  her  if  she  had.  She  was  occu 
pied  with  his  words.  "  Intending  to  loiter  indefi 
nitely  "  did  not  smack  of  a  wife,  left  behind  in 
England — unless — unless  the  wife  were  the  cause  of 
has  indefinite  loiter. 

"  You  have  a  complaisant  family,"  she  remarked. 

"  Yes ! "  he  said,  and  laughed ;  "  yes,  I  have  a 
very  complaisant  family."  Then  he  abruptly 
changed  the  subject. — "  Shall  we  walk  in  the  park, 
or  do  you  prefer  the  esplanade — or  shall  we  walk, 
at  all?" 

"  The  esplanade,  by   all  means,"  she   said,   not 


70  THE  IMPOSTOR 

daring  to  venture  an  immediate  return  to  the  sub 
ject. 

For  it  was  evident  that  he  had  deliberately  veered, 
and,  as  she  had  assumed  to  treat  him,  hitherto,  as 
unmarried,  she  might  not,  now,  shift  her  attitude 
without  just  cause.  And  she  had  no  cause — not 
even  a  suspicion  that  was  based  on  anything. 
Moreover,  for  her  to  question  it,  now,  would  be 
inexcusable,  and,  if  she  were  wrong,  would  cause 
a  break  in  their  friendship.  And  that  she  was  not 
prepared  to  chance.  In  fact,  at  the  present  mo 
ment,  she  did  not  know  whether  she  preferred  Sir 
Edward  Parkington  or  Richard  Maynadier.  The 
one  was  a  great  catch  and  a  charming  man,  but 
he  was  an  American — and,  besides,  was  not  suffi 
ciently  responsive  to  her  charms ;  the  other  was  a 
Britisher,  but,  she  feared,  was  not  for  her,  who 
could  bring  no  fortune  with  her. 

She  stole  a  glance  at  her  companion.  He  was 
slowly  plucking  to  pieces  a  rose. 

"  What  are  you  doing?  "  she  asked. 

"  Testing  your  affection : — love  me,  love  me  not ; 
love  me — shall  I  continue." 

"  Pray  do,"  she  said ;  "  I  am  curious  to  know 
the  answer." 

"  It  is  undecided,  then  ?  "  banteringly. 

"  Yes — sometimes  I  do,  and  sometimes  I  do  not, 
and  sometimes — I  am  in  a  state  of  equipoise.  Let 
the  rose  tell  what  it  is,  at  present." 

"  Nay :  if  you  are  not  constant,  the  message  has 


HEDGELV  HALL  AND  MARBURY,  SE.  71 

no  merit — begone !  "  and  he  tossed  the  flower  from 
him.  "  Ho,  fellow !  "  to  a  man  in  servant's  clothes, 
who  was  passing  at  a  little  distance,  "  I  forgot  my 
walking-stick ;  you  will  find  it  by  yonder  bush — 
fetch  it." 

The  man  glanced  up,  hesitated  the  fraction  of  a 
second,  then  a  smile  passed  over  his  face,  and  he 
acquiesced. 

"  Very  well,  sir,"  he  answered,  and  went  on. 

The  voice  was  deep  and  full,  as  of  one  accustomed 
to  giving  orders  rather  than  receiving  them. 

Miss  Stirling  stopped,  stared — and,  then,  went 
swiftly  in  pursuit.  Parkington  watched  her  in 
surprise. 

"  Mr.  Marbury !  "  she  called.     "  Mr.  Marbury !  " 

The  tall  figure,  in  osnaburg  breeches  and  shirt, 
heavy  shoes  and  coarse  worsted  stockings,  swung 
around,  and  laughed. 

"  I  trust  you  are  well,  Miss  Stirling,"  he  said — 
"  Oh,"  as  she  began  to  explain  for  Sir  Edward — 
"  it  is  not  the  first  time  I  have  been  taken  for  one 
of  my  own  servants,  and  besides  I  come  by  it  hon 
estly.  The  feathers  made  the  birds,  Miss. — Sir 
Edward  Parkington,  I  presume;  I  have  heard  my 
son  speak  of  you,"  and  he  held  out  a  hand  that 
bore  all  the  evidences  of  toil  and  hardship,  and  that 
was,  distinctly,  not  the  hand  of  a  gentleman. 

"  I  am  delighted  to  meet  you,  Mr.  Marbury," 
said  Parkington.  "  This  is 

"  But  you  did  not  expect  to  meet  me  in  such 


72  THE  IMPOSTOR 

clothes,  hey  ?  "  with  a  quiet  little  chuckle.  "  Well, 
you  see,  I'm  more  at  home  in  them.  You  were 
saying  that  this  is " 

"  A  magnificent  place — quite  the  finest  I  have  seen 
in  America." 

It  was  a  particular  happy  speech.  Next  to  his 
son  and  daughter,  Hedgely  Hall  was  his  pride. 

"  That  it  is,  sir,  that  it  is  1 "  he  exclaimed. 
"  There  is  none  finer  to  the  Northward,  and  few 
to  the  Southward — except  it  be  Westover,  or 
Shirley,  and  one  or  two  in  South  Carolina — at  least, 
so  my  ship  captains  tell  me ;  I  have  never  seen  them 
for  myself.  It  will  be  a  fine  estate  for  George — 
Marbury  of  Hedgely  Hall  is  better  than  a  Marbury 
of  Frederick-Town.  Make  yourself  at  home,  sir, 
make  yourself  at  home.  Supper  is  at  seven  o'clock. 
I  must  get  out  of  these  clothes  before  then — the 
family  doesn't  like  'em.  I  will  send  your  stick 
after  you,  sir." 

"  I  beg  of  you,  Mr.  Marbury,  not  to  bother ! " 
Parkington  exclaimed.  "  It  can  wait  until " 

But  a  wave  of  the  hand  was  the  only  answer,  as 
he  passed  out  of  hearing  up  the  avenue.  The  other 
looked  after  him  thoughtfully. 

"  So,  that  is  Marbury,  the  elder ! "  he  said.  "  I 
think  I  want  to  see  more  of  him — a  very  interesting 
character."  He  turned  to  Miss  Stirling,  and  swept 
her  his  most  profound  bow.  "  Your  pardon,  mad 
emoiselle!  shall  we  continue  the  walk?  " 


VI 


THE    MISTAKE 

AT  supper,  that  evening,  every  one  sat  where  he 
wished.  They  went  in  without  regard  to  prece 
dence,  and  Sir  Edward  found  himself  between  Miss 
Tyler  and  Miss  Marbury,  the  latter  taking  the  place 
of  her  mother,  who  was  indisposed. 

Old  Marbury  was  at  the  head  of  the  table.  He 
had  changed  his  servant's  apparel  for  a  quiet  suit 
of  black,  his  iron  gray  hair  was  unpowdered  and  un- 
bagged,  but  was  tied  at  his  neck  with  a  narrow 
ribbon.  His  greeting  to  the  guests  had  been  purely 
formal ;  and,  now,  he  cut  and  served  the  roast  ham  in 
silence,  and  passed  the  plates  to  Joshua,  the  negro 
butler.  He,  in  turn,  passed  them  on  to  an  assist 
ant,  who  carried  them  to  the  opposite  end  of  the 
table,  where  Miss  Judith  presided  over  the  fried 
chicken.  There  was  hot  bread  of  various  sorts,  pre 
serves,  pickles,  and  two  kinds  of  sweets,  all  placed 
on  the  table;  in  addition,  there  was  tea  and  coffee, 
and  great  pitchers  of  milk  on  the  side  table. 

As  for  servants,  there  were  five,  beside  Joshua, 
to  wait;  he  did  nothing  but  stand  behind  the 
master's  chair  and  oversee.  And  sorry  was  the 
negro  who  failed  to  anticipate  the  wants  of  a 
guest — old  Joshua's  eye  detected  it,  and  he  reck 
oned,  later,  with  the  culprit.  He  was  a  belonging 

73 


74  THE  IMPOSTOR 

of  the  Hedgelys,  taken  with  the  place  and  well 
befitting  it.  Marbury  had  bought  him,  with  the 
goods  and  chattels  of  the  deceased  owner — just 
as  he  had  bought  hundreds  of  others — at  the  market 
price.  Only,  Joshua's  price  was  higher  than  the 
others. 

He  had  remained  as  butler;  no  one  thought  of 
supplanting  him,  and,  so  far  as  his  domain  extended, 
things  were  done  as  the  Hedgelys  had  done  them. 
Indeed,  he  even  persisted  in  wearing  the  green  and 
gold  of  his  late  owner;  and  old  Marbury,  after  a 
moment's  hesitation,  had  given  him  his  way,  and  had 
taken  over  the  Hedgely  colors,  as  well  as  the 
Hedgely  estate.  And,  in  time,  he  was  allowed  full 
sway  about  the  place,  for  he  knew  what,  and  when, 
and  how,  and  the  Marburys  did  not.  Marbury  him 
self  was  too  occupied  to  learn,  even  if  he  could, 
Mrs.  Marbury  was  content  to  leave  such  things  to 
the  children,  and  George  and  Judith,  seeing  that 
the  old  slave  was  competent  and  faithful,  did  not 
interfere. 

It  had  been  a  sore  trial  for  Joshua,  this  serving 
of  the  Redemptioner,  where  hitherto  a  Hedgely  had 
ruled, — all  in  the  colony  knew  what  Henry  Marbury 
had  been  and  whence  he  came — but  there  was  no 
alternative.  Well  was  it  for  him,  that  the  new 
master  had  not  seen  fit  to  put  another  in  his  place, 
and  him  into  the  tobacco  fields.  And,  at  first,  the 
service  had  been  unwilling  and  grudgingly  (not 
publicly,  but  at  heart — he  knew  too  well  the  punish- 


THE  MISTAKE  75 

merit  that  awaited  the  shirking  servant).  But, 
as  the  days  passed,  and  he  saw  that  Marbury  was 
given  to  silence,  and  that  to  Miss  Judith  and  Mr. 
George  were  left  the  control  of  the  house,  he  re 
gained  his  spirits,  and  came  to  serve  them  even 
as  he  did  the  old  master. 

The  Marburys  could  never  forget  the  Hedgelys, 
however.  They  sat  under  their  portraits  at  meal 
time  and  in  the  drawing  room,  their  arms  shone  on 
the  china  and  the  silver.  Many  would  have  ban 
ished  the  portraits,  got  new  china,  and  had  the 
escutcheon  removed  from  the  silver.  They  would 
have  torn  down  everything  that  reminded  of  their 
newness.  Not  so  with  Marbury.  He  let  them  re 
main,  nay,  rather  he  conserved  them.  Marbury 
is  new,  he  said,  all  Maryland  knows  it,  therefore 
preserve  what  the  Hedgelys  left.  The  more  we 
exalt  the  latter,  the  better  for  us.  If  we  do  not 
allow  them  to  be  forgotten,  we  shall  gain  in  the 
estimation  of  the  old  families,  whose  good  opinion 
it  is  worth  while  to  have.  Get  all  the  benefit  of  their 
reflected  glory,  it  is  an  asset  of  their  estate  which 
you  have  purchased,  you  are  entitled  to  it,  and,  if 
not  neglected,  it  will  yield  good  returns. 

And  he  was  not  mistaken.  It  soon  became 
known  that  the  Marburys  were  making  no  effort  to 
suppress  the  past.  They  would  not  change  the 
name  of  the  estate,  all  the  old  servants  were  to  be 
retained,  all  the  old  customs  followed,  even  the  silver 
and  china  were  preserved,  the  portraits  on  the  walls. 


76  THE  IMPOSTOR 

The  Hall  was  as  the  Hedgelys  had  left  it — and 
more: — it  was  better  cultivated,  and  better  admin 
istered,  and  better  kept.  Society,  at  first  hostile  to 
the  new  family,  gradually  grew  quiescent — it  would 
wait  and  see.  It  could  never  accept  Henry  Marbury 
(as  he  well  knew)  ;  but,  as  for  the  next  generation? 
They  had  the  money,  would  they  acquire  the  savoir 
faire. 

Henry  Marbury  understood  what  was  in  society's 
mind.  His  answer  was  to  buy  a  home  in  Annapolis 
— but  he  never  obtruded  himself.  He  was  a  liberal 
subscriber  to  the  church  and  to  the  lotteries,  and 
whatever  he  won  in  the  latter  was  given  to  the 
former.  God  save  him ! 

Meanwhile,  George  was  sent  to  King  William's 
School,  where  he  met  all  the  sons  of  the  aris 
tocracy,  and,  having  stood  the  test,  was  received 
as  one  of  them.  Judith  was  given  a  private  tutor, 
a  maid,  and  a  coach;  and,  somehow,  she  too  came, 
eventually,  to  know  the  sisters  of  the  boys  her 
brother  knew.  The  rest  was  easy: — money — 
enough  money  not  to  spoil  them,  and  make  them 
undesirable  companions. 

And  it  won — as  it  always  will,  where  position 
depends  on  a  campaign  well  managed,  and  an  en 
gaging  personality. 

All  this,  Sir  Edward  had  heard,  by  dribs,  at  the 
Coffee-house  and  elsewhere.  He  had  been  curious 
to  meet  the  man  who  had  planned  it,  and  had  seen 
it  through,  effacing  himself  that  it  might  succeed. 


THE  MISTAKE  77 

For  that  it  had  succeeded  the  present  gathering 
guaranteed.  George  and  Judith  Marbury  were  in 
society,  and  safely  in;  thereafter,  it  depended  on 
themselves  whether  they  would  stay  in.  The  next 
thing  was  marriage.  Sir  Edward's  glance  passed 
slowly  around  the  table.  Yes,  they  would  any  of 
them  do,  any  one  in  the  Colony,  in  fact.  George 
Marbury  was  undoubtedly  handsome,  of  a  fine  fig 
ure,  tall  and  supple,  with  an  air  about  him  which 
ordinarily  comes  only  from  generations  of  ances 
tors.  And  Judith  had  a  certain  ease  and  stateli- 
ness  of  bearing,  which  was  the  feminine  counterpart 
of  her  brother's. 

He  let  his  eyes  rest  covertly  on  her.  Broken  in 
fortune,  with  no  money  save  what  he  made,  he  might 
have  married  her,  and  helped  conserve  the  Marbury 
fortune — might  have  learned  to  oversee  a  tobacco 
plantation,  to  raise  wheat,  to  trade  in  slaves  and 
bond-servants.  In  short,  he  might  have  led  a 
respectable  life,  here,  in  Maryland,  and  settled 
down  as  a  thrifty  and  sedate  landed  proprietor. 
That  is,  assuming  that  the  girl  would  have  him, 
and  the  silent  figure,  at  the  head  of  the  table, 
offered  no  serious  opposition. 

He  saw  his  mistake,  now.  He  should  have  held 
to  his  own  name,  and  the  little  money  he  had.  As 
he  might  not  return  to  England,  he  should  have 
announced  that  he  had  come  to  America  to  settle, 
to  grow  up  with  the  country.  Instead,  he  had 
stolen  another  man's  name  and  title,  had  set  himself 


78  THE  IMPOSTOR 

up  to  impersonate  him,  had  used  his  letters  of 
introduction,  had  been  received,  and  was,  at  that 
very  moment,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  Sir 
Edward  Parkington. 

It  was  too  late,  now,  to  retract.  He  had  burned 
his  bridges  behind  him.  He  was  known  the  prov 
ince  over,  nay  into  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania,  too ; 
for  he  had  met  representative  men  from  both  Colo 
nies  at  the  races,  and  they  had  made  much  of  him — 
the  traveller  for  pleasure.  To  admit,  now,  that 
he  was  not  Parkington,  but,  instead,  a  disinherited 
son,  with  a  few  pounds  to  his  credit  and  no  charac 
ter,  would  be  worse  than  folly — it  would  be  mad 
ness.  What  of  his  story  of  shipwreck — how  came 
he  by  the  letters  of  introduction — did  Parkington 
die  by  the  waves  or  by  murder?  Assuredly,  he  had 
made  a  mess  of  it 

Of  course — of  course,  he  could  marry  the  girl, 
or  make  a 'try  for  her,  still  masquerading  as  Sir 
Edward,  and  trust  to  luck,  and  the  Marbury  money 
to  find  a  way  out.  The  main  objection  to  this 
scheme  was  that,  for  all  he  knew,  Parkington  was 
already  married,  and  while  he  might  purloin  his 
reception  and  welcome,  yet  to  cause  him  to  commit 
bigamy,  was  a  little  too  much  risk.  Naturally, 
since  he  himself  was  unmarried,  there  would  be 
no  bigamy,  but  to  espouse  a  woman — a  good  woman 
— under  another  man's  name !  even  he  balked. 

He  had  played  the  bachelor  thus  far,  and  he 
hoped  it  was  according  to  the  fact ;  at  least,  no  one 


THE  MISTAKE  79 

had  questioned  it,  to  his  knowledge.  But,  this 
afternoon,  he  thought  he  had  detected  some  such 
purpose  in  Miss  Stirling's  manner — a  faint  doubt 
ing.  He  had  led  quickly  away,  and  she  had  made 
no  attempt  to  return  to  it.  Possibly,  he  had  been 
mistaken — it  might  well  be  that  he  was.  But,  at 
all  events,  the  question  confronted  him,  and  doubt 
less  would  have  to  be  answered,  sometime.  He 
was 

"  Is  anything  the  matter  with  the  chicken,  Sir 
Edward!" 

The  last  words  caught  his  ears.  "  I  beg  your 
pardon,  Miss  Marbury,"  he  said ;  "  did  you  ask  me 
a  question  ?  " 

"  I  asked  whether  anything  was  the  matter  with 
the  chicken?  "  she  replied;  "  you  have  been  frown 
ing  at  your  plate,  for  at  least  a  minute — or  is  it 
the  ham?" 

"Was  I  frowning?"  he  laughed;  "well,  rest 
assured  it  was  not  at  either  the  chicken  or  the  ham 
— they  are  delicious.  I  suppose  it  is  very  impolite, 
but  my  thoughts  had  gone  back  to  England 

and — "  he  made  an  expressive  gesture.  "  Amid 

the  most  delightful  surroundings,  home  will  sud 
denly  obtrude.  I  promise  not  to  offend  again." 

"  'Twas  a  grievous  offense,"  she  smiled, — "  par 
ticularly  for  a  traveller — an  omen  that  we  shall 
soon  lose  you.  N'est  ce  pas,  monsieur?  " 

"  It  is  not,  assuredly  not.  I  have  no  thought 
of  departing.  On  the  contrary,  I  have  but  begun 


80  THE  IMPOSTOR 

to  enjoy  my  stay.  I  may  become  a  Mary  lander, 
yet,  who  knows  ?  " 

The  smile  rippled  into  a  laugh.  "  You  flatter 
us  too  much,  Sir  Edward — oh !  too  much !  " 

"  I  flatter  not  at  all — I  mean  it." 

"  Is  this  a  sudden  notion — I  thought  you  trav 
elled  for  your  pleasure?  " 

"  And  so  I  do — solely,  for  my  pleasure.  Per 
chance,  my  pleasure  is  to  remain — I  do  not  know." 

She  refused  to  take  him  seriously.  "  Have  you 
advised  your  friends  in  England  of  this  new  idea?  " 

He  shook  his  head.  "  You  are  the  first  to  know 
it." 

"Because  the  idea  was,  this  moment,  born?" 

"  You  do   not  believe  me." 

"  You  do  not  believe,  yourself." 

"  But  you  would  receive  me  ?  " 

"  Assuredly,  we  would  receive  you — we  would  do 
more,  we  would  welcome  you." 

"  Then  I  warn  you  that  I  may  remain." 

"  What  nonsense !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  A  London 
gentleman  come  here  to  live — settle  down  to  the 
humdrum  life  of  a  Colonist !  " 

"  There  may  be  compensations." 

"  What  compensations  ?  " 

"  Leading  a  quiet  existence,  for  one  thing." 

"  No  need  to  cross  the  Atlantic  for  that,"  she 
said.  "  You  can  lead  a  quiet  existence  on  your 
country  estate — stay  away  from  London." 

"  The  social  life  is  very  charming,"  he  continued. 


THE  MISTAKE  81 

"  Granted — for  Maryland,  but  only  a  miniature 
of  the  life  you  have  at  home." 

"  And  your  women,"  he  went  on,  "  your  women 
are  fascinating." 

"  Some  men  are  so  gallant !  " 

"  Peste!  "  he  said,  "  you  will  not  be  convinced — 
not  even  that  I  should  have  a  good  excuse  for 
staying." 

"  No  good  excuse,  in  comparison,  with  what  you 
would  be  losing — and  "  (very  sweetly)  "  I  take  you 
to  be  a  gentleman  of  excellent  judgment." 

"  What  are  you  two  quarreling  about — what  will 
Miss  Marbury  not  be  convinced  of?  "  Miss  Tyler 
broke  in. 

"  That  your  Maryland  has  anything  to  offer  a 
man — a  man  who  had  lived  all  his  life  in  England," 
said  Parkington. 

"  It  would  depend  much  on  the  man." 

Sir  Edward  nodded.  "  Suppose  we  were  dis 
cussing  myself. 

"  You?  oh,  la !  "  and  went  into  a  gale  of  laughter. 

"  Evidently  you  are  not  convinced,"  Parkington 
observed. 

"  Surely,  you  are  not  serious  ?  "  she  demanded. 

"  Not  if  every  one  is  as  enthusiastic  as  Miss  Tyler 
and  Miss  Marbury,"  said  Parkington,  with  affected 
indignation. 

Captain  Herford,  across  the  table,  had  been 
attracted  by  the  merriment ;  now  he  broke  in. 

"  I  say,  what  is  the  enthusiasm — what  is  it  ?  " 
6 


82  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  The  ebullitions  of  a  quiet  spirit,"  said  Park- 
ington,  quickly. 

"Oh,  is  that  all?"  Herford  rejoined.  "I 
thought,  from  Miss  Tyler's  quiet  laugh,  that  it  was 
the  ebullitions  of  a  ghost." 

"  You  were  not  asked  to  think  anything  about 
it,"  Miss  Tyler  retorted.  "  Stay  on  your  own  side 
of  the  table,  will  you?  " 

"  Bravo !  "  cried  Parkington.  "  Come  again, 
Captain  Herford,  come  again  !  " 

Herford  shook  his  head.  "  The  lady  is  in  a  bit 
of  a  temper.  I  best  wait  until  the  storm  subsides," 
he  said,  and  turned  away  indifferently. 

"  There  is  something  about  that  man  which 
always  gets  on  my  nerves,"  Miss  Tyler  remarked, 
lowering  her  voice.  "  I  do  not  know  what  it  is,  and 
I  reckon  I  should  not  let  it  affect  me,  but  it  does." 

"  Cultivate  the  placid  disposition,"  Miss  Marbury 
recommended. 

"  Oh,  that  is  very  well  for  you  to  say,  but  it  is 
not  easy  to  do.  You  have  not  any  nerves, — you 
would  not  get  excited  if  the  house  were  burning." 

"  Do  not  try  me,  I  beg  of  you  !  "  laughed  Judith. 
"  I  would  be  sure  to  carry  down  all  the  pillows,  and 
to  throw  the  chinaware  out  the  second  story 
windows." 

"  Well,  I  only  wish  I  had  your  placidity — not  to 
be  always  on  edge.  There  is  nothing  the  matter 
with  Captain  Herford,  I  suppose;  I  just  take  him 
wrong. — I  always  have.  But,  frankly,  Judith,  he 


THE  MISTAKE  83 

is  not  to  my  liking — though  I  should  not  say  it  to 
you,  the  hostess." 

Judith  Marbury  made  a  little  motion  of  indif 
ference.  "  Say  anything  you  like,  my  dear;  he  is 
George's  guest,  not  mine." 

"  You  do  not  like  him,  either?  " 

"  I  neither  like  nor  dislike  him — I  am  totally 
indifferent." 

"  But  you  are  always  nice  to  him ! — however,  you 
are  always  nice  to  every  one.  Has  he  ever  tried 
to  make  love  to  you?  " 

"  Oh,  yes !  he  has  tried  it  with  all  the  girls.  At 
p"3sent,  he  is  mad  about  Martha  Stirling." 

"  Half  the  men  of  the  Province  are  mad  about  her 
— and  with  just  cause,  too,  I  grant.  But  they  will 
get  over  it — the  minute  the  ship,  that  bears  her  back 
to  England,  passes  Greenbury  Point." 

"  You  think  that  none  of  them  could  persuade 
her  to  remain  ?  " 

"  It  is  as  unlikely  as  that  Sir  Edward  himself 
will  remain." 

"  Governor  Sharpe  has  bought  Whitehall ;  " — 
Miss  Marbury  objected — '*  he  will  become  one  of  us 
when  his  term  expires." 

"  But  his  niece  will  not,"  taid  Miss  Tyler.  "  He 
seeks  rest  and  ease,  she  pleasure  and  excitement." 

"  I  can  find  plenty  of  pleasure  and  excitement 
in  Maryland." 

"  And  so  can  I — but  not  if  the  sort  she  would 
have.  It  is  all  in  what  you  have  been  used  to. 


84  THE  IMPOSTOR 

Maryland  is  agreeable  enough  for  a  few  months, 
but  she  will  want  something  else  for  steady  diet. 
She  has  beauty  and  fascination,  and  they  bring  a 
higher  price  in  England  than  in  America." 

"  Is  the  lady,  then,  for  sale  ?  "  inquired  Park 
in  gton. 

"  We  all  are  for  sale,  the  only  question  is  the 
price  you  pay." 

"  Edith !  "  exclaimed  Miss  Marbury — "  where,  in 
Heaven's  name,  did  you  get  such  notions?  " 

"  Here  in  Maryland — every  girl  prefers  a  man 
with  money  or  prominence — you  do,  I  do,  we  all 
do.  Unless  he  has  one  or  the  other,  he  is  not  even 
considered  as  a  possible  husband — isn't  it  so !  " 

"  No — at  least,  I  think,  I  am  not  for  sale.  Does 
love  play  no  part  in  the  compact?  " 

"  As  you  wish — you  can  love  him  or  not.  Given 
a  rich  or  prominent  suitor,  and  one  possessing 
neither,  which  would  you  love,  think  you?  " 

"All  things  being  equal  otherwise?" 

"  Not  necessarily — the  poor  one  may  be  much  the 
better  looking — and  of  a  more  amiable  disposition." 

"  I  cannot  answer,"  said  Miss  Marbury ;  "  I 
would  have  to  see  them  to  choose — wealth  and 
prominence  are  in  one's  favor,  but  so  also  is  a  hand 
some  person  and  an  amiable  disposition — and  then, 
after  all,  I  fancy,  I  should  let  love  decide." 

"  But  if  you  love  neither?  " 

"  Then,  I  reckon,  I  should  marry  neither,"  Miss 
Marbury  answered. 


THE  MISTAKE  85 

"  Well,  you  for  it ! "  said  Miss  Tyler,  with  a 
shrug,  "  but,  for  my  part,  love  has  nothing  to  do 
with  it.  And  if  it  has,  it  is  quite  as  easy  to  love 
the  rich  man  as  poor  man,  and  much  more  sensible 
in  the  end." 

"  In  effect,  you  would  sell  yourself  for  money  ?  " 

"  And  you  would  sell  yourself  for  love ;  it  is  all 
the  same — only,  your  consideration  rarely  lasts :  the 
man  makes  no  effort  to  keep  it.  It  is  different  with 
money,  vastly  different." 

"  I  fear  we  are  making  a  poor  impression  on  Sir 
Edward,"  said  Miss  Marbury.  "  He  will  think 
you  mercenary,  and  me  a  sentimentalist." 

"  He  flung  the  bone — he  is  responsible !  "  Miss 
Tyler  laughed. 

"  I  did,"  said  he — "  and  I  was  vastly  entertained. 
ShaU  I  fling  another?  " 

"  Not  this  evening,  my  good  sir,"  said  Miss 
Tyler.  "  Perhaps  you  will  decide  the  vexed  ques 
tion  for  us — mercenary  or  sentimentalist?  " 

"  Never,  oh,  never !  Pray  excuse  me !  Ladies, 
I  beg  of  you " 

"  It  would  serve  you  right  if  we  did  not,"  Miss 
Marbury  broke  in.  "  Have  a  piece  of  chicken  ?  " 

"  Yes,  yes !  Two  pieces,  if  you  wish — I'll  eat 
anything  rather  than  decide  between  you ! "  he 
averred. 

"  Then,  no  more  bones,  m'sieur." 

"  No,    mo    more    bones,"    warned    Miss    Tyler. 


86  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  Oh !  may  we  tell  that  you  are  thinking  of  settling 
in  Maryland?  " 

"  Lord !  no !  "  Then,  when  they  both  laughed, 
he  added :  "  I  do  not  want  to  raise  the  ladies'  hopes 
too  high — I  might  not  remain,  you  know."  (Which 
is  as  good  as  saying  I  am  not  married — without 
saying  it,  he  reflected.) 

Herford  had  been  trying  to  overhear  their  talk, 
and,  now,  a  sudden  lull,  around  the  table,  afforded 
him  the  opportunity. 

"  What  is  that?  "  he  called  out.  "  Thinking  of 
settling  in  Maryland — do  they  mean  you,  Sir 
Edward?  " 

"  No !  "  replied  Parkington,  instantly.  "  We 
were  speaking  of  the  Devil — and  wondering,  if  he 
were  to  settle  here,  how  long  he  would  escape  in 
quisitive  questions.  May  be  you  can  answer." 

It  was  said  smilingly,  and  apparently  with  the 
best  spirit,  but  none  who  heard  it  missed  the  sting. 
And  in  Herford's  face  a  faint  color  came,  and  his 
eyes  snapped. 

"  It  would  depend  on  how  it  pleased  him  to 
masquerade,"  he  retorted ;  "  some  disguises  are,  you 
know,  more  effective  than  others,  but  I  should  say 
he  would  be  most  successful  as  an  English  gentle 
man." 

Sir  Edward's  smile  broadened  into  a  laugh,  and 
the  rest  of  the  table,  seeing  that  he  took  it  so, 
joined  in. 


THE  MISTAKE  87 

"  You  score !  "  he  answered,  when  the  merriment 
had  subsided. 

But  Herford,  instead  of  meeting  the  acknowl 
edgment  half  way  with  a  quick  declination,  gave  a 
supercilious  shrug  and  a  lift  of  the  eyebrows,  and 
turned  away.  Whereby,  he  lost  all  the  advantage, 
and  proved  himself  a  prig;  whereas  Sir  Edward 
was  marked  as  well-bred,  and  the  impropriety  of 
his  original  retort  was  forgotten.  Furthermore, 
it  had  served  to  pass  over  Herford's  query,  and  to 
make  the  table  forget  it — and  that  was  Parking- 
ton's  main  concern.  He  supposed  it  would  come 
out — it  was  not  likely  Miss  Marbury  or  Miss  Tyler 
could  keep  silent — but  he  preferred  that  it  should 
not  be  told  to  the  whole  company,  in  his  presence. 


VII 


SIE    EDWARD    LAYS    PLANS 

SIR  EDWARD  PARKINGTON  lay  awake,  for  a  long 
time  that  night,  thinking.  It  was  good  sport,  this 
posing  as  another  man,  and  he  had  entered  upon  it 
much  as  he  had  entered  upon  all  his  escapades,  for 
the  fun  of  it — and  the  amusement  of  seeing  himself 
received  and  accorded  the  welcome  belonging  to 
some  one  else. 

And  he  had  enjoyed  it  thoroughly,  until  yester 
day.  Then,  the  question  suddenly  presented  itself! 
— if  you  are  going  to  remain  in  America,  how  is 
this  thing  to  end?  What  are  you  to  be,  when  it 
is  over — for  it  cannot  last  forever;  it  is  sure  to 
be  found  out;  some  one,  who  knew  Sir  Edward,  in 
the  flesh,  or  who  knows  you,  will  come  upon  you, 
and  the  truth  will  out.  He  might  masquerade  for 
a  year,  or  two  years  even,  scarcely  longer — and, 
then,  again,  he  might  be  detected,  at  any  moment. 
He  had  not  thought  of  the  hazard — of  the  punish 
ment  that  awaited  when  he  assumed  the  imper 
sonation.  He  saw  only  how  easy  it  would  be — 
a  dead  man,  his  letters,  and  the  thing  was  done. 
But,  once  done,  it  was  not  so  easy  to  undo  it.  The 
only  way,  was  for  Sir  Edward  Parkington  to  die 
a  second  time,  and  finally — and  his  body  not  be 
found.  And  that  would  necessitate  his  disappear- 
88 


SIR  EDWARD  LAYS  PLANS  89 

ance — to  a  sufficiently  distant  city  where  his  name 
and  figure  were  not  known:  Boston — New  York — 
Charleston. 

He  had  heard  of  Charleston,  as  a  particularly 
nice  town — after  Annapolis,  the  best  in  America. 
Of  New  York,  he  knew  but  little;  of  Boston,  still 
less.  Moreover,  he  preferred  the  warmth  of  the 
South,  and  the  people,  there,  were  said  to  be  very 
hospitable.  He  had  never  heard  that  of  New  York, 
and  he  had  a  distinct  recollection  that  Boston  was 
reputed  a  most  inhospitable  town.  Yes,  he  would 
choose  Charleston — it  was  farther  removed  from 
the  ways  of  travel,  more  isolated.  There,  he  cbuld 
put  off  his  borrowed  plumes  and  stand  forth  as  his 
true  self,  and  no  one  would  be  the  wiser.  He  would 
leave  Annapolis  as  Sir  Edward  Parkington,  bound 
for  Philadelphia.  He  would  reach  there  another 
man ;  and  the  first  ship  which  left  that  port,  South 
ward-bound,  would  have  him  for  a  passenger.  Yes, 
decidedly,  it  was  the  best  way — when  the  time  came 
for  him  to  leave  Annapolis. 

There  was  no  need  for  haste — he  had  the  whole 
summer  before  him.  It  was  not  likely  he  would 
be  found  out  before  the  late  Autumn;  it  took  a 
vessel  nine  weeks  to  make  the  voyage  across.  He 
had  taken  a  strong  liking  for  this  Maryland,  and 
her  people,  and  the  life  they  led.  He  thought  he 
would  like  to  lead  it  with  them. 

And  this  Marbury  business  was  the  right  idea — 
if  he  had  only  come  in  his  proper  person.  Well, 


90  THE  IMPOSTOR 

he  had  not,  and  it  behooved  him  to  make  the  best  of 
it.  Barring  accidents,  there  was  small  chance  of 
the  impersonation  being  detected  before  October, 
and  much  could  be  accomplished  in  the  interim. 
At  least,  he  would  have  a  good  time,  and  the  ex 
planations  could  wait 

Yes,  he  would  consider  marriage  with  Judith 
Marbury,  very  seriously.  She  was  good  style,  de 
spite  her  birth,  and  her  face  and  figure  were  much 
above  the  average.  In  fact,  they  were  downright 
handsome — handsomer  than  any  of  the  ladies  he  had 
met,  except  Miss  Stirling — and  Miss  Stirling  had 
no  money — and  was  going  back  to  England 

Of  course,  Miss  Marbury  might  not  take  him  for 
a  husband — but  that  would  develop  later.  He 
could  make  a  flying  start,  at  any  rate.  And  he 
did  not  know  whether  he  wanted  her  for  wife; 
that,  also,  would  develop  later.  All  he  knew  now 
was,  that  the  Marbury  fortune  was  ample,  and  that 
Miss  Marbury  went  with  the  fortune,  in  the  nature 
of  an  additional  prize. 

He  lay  in  the  high  tester-bed,  with  its  flowered 
curtains  draped  around  it,  looking  through  the 
window  at  the  moonlight  on  the  trees  and  turf, 
and  glinting  on  the  distant  river.  The  other  men 
of  the  party  were  remitted  to  the  bachelor  quarters 
and  had  to  double  up.  He  was  the  special  guest, 
and,  as  such,  was  given  the  main  chamber,  and 
permitted  to  occupy  it  alone.  It  was  accorded  to 
him,  naturally,  as  his  due,  and  he  had  not  objected, 


SIR  EDWARD  LAYS  PLANS  91 

though  he  would  have  preferred  being  with  the 
other  young  fellows  in  the  wing.  None  of  them, 
he  noted,  appeared  to  have  intentions  respecting 
Judith  Marbury,  and,  consequently,  he  had  a  clear 
field.  Besides,  it  would  have  given  him  the  oppor 
tunity  to  get  nearer  to  them,  and,  if  they  so  wished, 
to  instruct  them  in  the  art  of  cards. 

He  had,  it  is  true,  borrowed  two  hundred  pounds 
from  the  Governor,  which  would  be  ample  for  some 
time,  but  if  he  intended  to  remain,  even  for  a  few 
months,  he  must  pay  it  back  in  due  season.  If, 
however,  he  intended  to  stay  only  a  short  while,  and 
then  disappear,  the  paying  back  would  be  super 
fluous.  Never  pay  anything,  even  if  you  have  the 
money,  was  his  rule  of  conduct;  and,  for  long,  he 
had  been  subsisting  by  it,  and  other  people's 
credulity.  It  amounted  to  his  father's  credulity 
in  the  end,  for  he  had  been  the  one  to  always  pay 
finally. 

But  his  father  had  grown  tired,  at  length,  and 
a  felony  resulted,  of  which  he  was  the  victim. 
Then,  to  escape  the  debtors'  prison  on  one  hand, 
and  prosecution,  with  but  one  end,  on  the  other, 
he  took  his  sire's  money  and  advice,  and  under 
an  assumed  name  departed,  one  fine  night,  for  the 
Colonies.  This  name  he  again  exchanged  for  Sir 
Edward  Parkington  in  a  manner  heretofore  noted. 
It  had  seemed  very  amusing  at  the  time,  but,  now, 
he  did  not  know  what  to  do  with  it 

He  could  not  remain  in  Maryland  (as  he  had,  sud- 


92  THE  IMPOSTOR 

denly,  decided  he  would  like  to  do)  under  it;  he 
could  not  well  court  Miss  Marbury  under  it; 
assuredly,  he  could  not  marry  her  under  it  (he  was 
not  quite  graceless  enough  for  that) — he  could  do 
nothing  under  it,  except  to  stay  a  short  time  and, 
then,  depart  and  disappear.  And  he  could  not  lay 
it  aside  without  an  explanation — and  that,  with  the 
shipwreck,  the  letters,  and  the  dead  man  would 

likely  put  him  in  jail It  was  the  very  devil 

of  a  mess — and,  the  more  he  thought  of  it,  the 

bigger  mess  it  became Well,  at  any  rate, 

it  would  do  no  harm  to  sit  up  to  old  Marbury,  and 
try  to  win  his  good  opinion.  And,  with  this  final 
idea  in  his  mind,  Sir  Edward  dropped  asleep. 

But  his  sleep  was  fitful  and  broken;  when  the 
clock  on  the  landing  chimed  six,  he  arose,  shaved 
and  dressed  himself,  and  went  down  stairs. 

The  servants  were  about,  but  none  else,  and,  after 
wandering  aimlessly  through  the  house,  he  saunt 
ered  out  on  the  front  piazza.  He  could  hear  the 
song  of  the  slaves  from  a  distant  tobacco  field,  the 
sharp  order  of  some  overseer,  the  call  of  the  sailors, 
on  the  Patuxent,  and  the  whistle  of  the  boatswain's 
pipe.  He  would  go  down  to  the  river ;  a  fine  path 
way,  a  splendid  avenue  of  trees,  and  an  early  May 
morning  going  to  waste,  he  might  as  well  make  use 
of  them  until  breakfast. 

He  arrived  in  time  to  see  the  schooner,  which  had 
brought  them  from  Annapolis,  hoist  anchor  and  sail 
away  down  the  river.  A  man,  who  was  standing 


SIR  EDWARD  LAYS  PLANS  93 

on  the  dock  giving  orders,  faced  about  and  came 
toward  him;  he  recognized  old  Marbury — in  his 
servant's  clothes. 

"  You  are  up  betimes,  Sir  Edward,"  he  called, 
heartily. 

"  I  but  honor  the  morning  and  the  place,"  said 
Parkington.  "  Though,  I  confess,  if  I  had  not 
been  wakeful,  I  likely  would  not  have  honored  them 
for  another  hour." 

The  other  nodded.  "  I  dare  say — you  are  not 
of  the  early  risers  by  birth,  and  you  have  no 
occasion  to  learn  by  experience,  as  I  have." 

"  I  suppose  we  miss  the  best  time  of  the  day." 

"  Trash,  all  trash !  you  miss  an  hour  or  two  that 
may  be  bright,  but  it  is  no  brighter  than  the  rest 
of  a  bright  day — and  if  it  happens  to  be  dismal, 
it  is  the  dismalest  hour  of  the  day.  I  am  up 
mainly  because  I'm  accustomed  to  it — it  would  not 
be  natural  for  me  to  sleep  late — I  cannot  do  it." 

"  You  get  better  work  out  of  the  men  by  it  ?  " 
Parkington  asked. 

"  Yes,  oh,  yes !  There  is  nothing  like  the  mas 
ter's  presence,  or  the  possibility  of  it,  to  accom 
plish  results." 

And  when  Sir  Edward  smiled,  he  went  on :  "  You 
think  I  have  not  broken  my  son  to  my  way  of  doing? 
Very  true.  There  is  no  need — he  will  not  have  to 
labor  as  I  have  done,  the  way  is  easy  for  him.  It 
has  ceased  to  be  the  custom  for  the  master  to  be 
up  with  liis  slaves.  Times  change,  and  people 


94  THE  IMPOSTOR 

change  with  them.  I  have  made  the  money — it  will 
be  George's  work  to  live  up  to  it,  and  to  retain  it." 

"  Much  the  easier  part,"  commented  Parkington. 

"  I'm  not  so  sure,"  said  Marbury.  "  Every  man 
to  his  calling.  I  could  not  live  up  to  it — in  the 
aristocratic  way,  that  is ;  I  think  George  can.  But, 
in  doing  it  requires  ability  to  retain  it.  Here  is 
the  uncertainty." 

"  It  is  safe  so  long  as  you  live,"  Parkington 
observed. 

"  May  be  it  is,"  was  the  answer,  with  a  grim 
sort  of  smile ;  "  but  I  look  further  ahead.  You  have 
heard  my  history?  " 

Sir  Edward  hesitated  an  instant :  "  Yes,"  he 
said,  "  I  have  heard  it,  as  the  Coffee-house  knows 
it." 

The  other's  smile  broadened,  lighting  up  his  face 
and  eyes,  and  wiping  out  their  gaunt  severity. 

"  The  Coffee-house  knows  that  I  am  a  Redemp- 
tioner,"  he  said — "  that  I  served  my  five  years — 
that,  when  my  time  of  service  was  ended,  I  took 
my  provision  and  went  to  Frederick — that  I  ac 
quired  some  little  wealth — that,  six  years  ago,  I 
came  to  Annapolis,  and  two  years  ago  I  bought  this 
place.  It  was  a  rare  stroke,  buying  this  place! 
You  have  doubtless  heard  some  other  gossip,  part 
true,  part  untrue.  But  what  you  have  not  heard, 
because  none  in  the  Colony  knows  it,  is  that  my 
father  came  of  a  good  family  in  England.  He  was 
wild  and  foolish,  his  people  cut  him  adrift,  disin- 


SIR  EDWARD  LAYS  PLANS  95 

herited  him.  Our  name  is  changed;  I  shall  never 
claim  the  relationship.  Under  the  new  name  I 
have  prospered ;  it  has  served  for  my  children ;  they 
are  received  in  society.  I  have  made  my  own  way. 
I  owe  nothing  to  my  immediate  ancestors.  I  am 
the  founder  of  my  line.  My  son  will  have  a  goodly 
inheritance — my  daughter  an  ample  patrimony. 
I  am  satisfied."  He  stopped,  and  looked  at  Park- 
ington,  curiously :  "  Strange !  "  he  said,  "  strange ! 
that  I  should  tell  you  this !  I  do  not  know  whether 
it  is  because  you  are  an  English  knight — or  some 
thing  about  you  which  makes  us  seem  akin  (beg 
ging  your  pardon,  sir,  I  mean  in  sympathy  not  in 
blood).  It  is  the  first  time  I  have  spoken  of  it — 
you  will  oblige  me,  by  forgetting  it." 

Parkington  inclined  his  head  in  acquiescence. 

"  It  is  forgotten,"  he  said.  "  And  it  may  be, 
there  are  more  points  of  sympathy  between  us  than 
you  imagine.  As  it  seems  to  me,  in  this  new  land, 
the  aristocracy  is  one  of  wealth  and  culture,  or 
culture  and  wealth,  whichever  way  it  come.  You 
have  provided  the  wealth,  your  son  and  daughter 
the  culture." 

"  There  is  one  thing  more  needed  to  make  it  se 
cure,"  said  Marbury : — "  Marriage  into  the  old 
families.  When  that  is  done,  I  am  ready  to  die." 

"  You  are  ready  to  live,  you  mean." 

"  I  mean  what  I  said.  Old  Mr.  Brewster  was 
my  master.  When  my  time  of  service  was  ended, 
he  sent  for  me.  '  Here,  Marbury,  are  the  things 


96  THE  IMPOSTOR 

which  the  law  compels  me  to  give  you,'  he  said. 
'  Take  them.  I  understand  you  are  going  to  Fred 
erick.  Stay  there! — you  may  make  some  money,  I 
fancy  you  will,  but,  don't  imagine  yourself  any 
better,  if  you  do.  Don't  come  to  Annapolis  and 
attempt  to  get  into  society,  as  some  Redemptioners 
have  done — and  failed.  You  don't  belong,  and  we 
won't  have  you.  You  have  been  my  servant,  you 
can  never  be  our  equal.'  I  thanked  him  and  de 
parted,  resolved  to  come  back.  That  resolution  has 
never  faltered.  But  there  was  truth  in  what  he 
said.  I  have  been  a  servant,  I  can  never  be  the 
equal  of  those  who  knew  me  as  a  servant.  With  my 
son  and  daughter  it  is  different.  They  have  to  do 
with  another  generation,  they  never  were  servants 
— and,"  (with  a  smile)  "  they  have  the  means  of 
propitiation.  They  are  far  beyond  me — my  use 
fulness  to  them  is  ended,  more,  I  am  a  positive  hind 
rance.  So,  I  would  be  content  to  go." 

"  Man !  man  !  you're  morbid !  "  exclaimed  Park- 
ington. — "  How  old  are  you?  " 

"  Sixty,  last  month." 

"  Many  men,  at  your  age,  have  only  started  to 
live.  Let  the  young  ones  go  their  ways — the  next 
generation  will  take  them,  fast  enough.  You  pre 
fer  a  quiet  existence — very  well,  have  it;  it  will 
not  interfere  with  them.  You  have  been  living  to 
yourself  so  long,  with  but  one  idea,  that  you  have 
become  obsessed  by  it.  Live  now  for  your  own  en 
joyment — forget  all  else." 


SIR  EDWARD  LAYS  PLANS  97 

"  When  a  man  has  lived  his  life  for  a  single 
end,  and,  at  sixty,  has  seen  that  end  attained,  there 
is  not  time  to  start  with  a  new  one.  I  am  not  mor 
bid — on  the  contrary,  I  am  supremely  happy  to 
have  accomplished  my  life's  aim,  or  nearly  it.  If 
I  were  convinced  that  my  death  is  necessary  to  per 
fect  success,  I  would  be  willing  to  die.  That  is 
what  I  mean,  sir — that  is  what  I  hold  to." 

"  And  that  is  why  you  have  won  out !  "  exclaimed 
Parkington.  "  You  contemplated  only  success, 
never  failure." 

"  No,  I  never  thought  of  failure,"  said  Marbury ; 
"  it  was  not  in  the  problem." 

There  was  silence  for  a  time.  Presently,  the 
Englishman  spoke. 

"  Since  you  have  honored  me,  thus  far,"  he  said, 
"  I  am,  I  hope,  committing  no  impropriety  if  I  ask 
one  question." 

"  Ask  on,  sir,"  replied  Marbury,  "  I  have  told 
you  what  I  have  told  no  other — it  will  do  no  harm  to 
tell  you  something  more." 

"  You  spoke  of  marriage,"  said  Parkington. 
"  Has  anything  been — arranged,  as  to  either?  " 

"  If  you  mean,  have  I  picked  out  a  mate  for 
either? — no.  And  I  think  that  they  have  not  picked 
for  themselves." 

"  Miss  Marbury  is  a  particularly  fine  girl — she 
should  have  suitors  in  plenty." 

Marbury  did  not  answer. 

"  And  young  Mr.  Marbury,  as  the  future  master 
7 


98  THE  IMPOSTOR 

of  Hedgely  Hall,  if  for  nothing  else,  is  a  most 
desirable  parti — and  he  is  a  mighty  good  fellow, 
besides." 

'*  I  think  I  can  trust  them,"  said  Marbury, 
quietly.  "  They  may  take  their  own  time." 

And  Parkington,  fearing  that  he  had  gone  a  bit 
too  far,  made  haste  to  change  the  subject. 

Marbury  was  a  queer  man,  one  of  the  peculiar 
temperament,  likely,  which,  having  no  confidants 
and  no  intimates,  will  suddenly  tell  a  life's  secrets  to 
a  casual  acquaintance,  and  then  repent  it  forever 
after.  True,  he  had  not  told  him  much  that  he 
could  not  have  heard,  any  time,  at  the  Coffee-house, 
but  that  made  small  difference.  It  was  the  telling 
which  he  would  regret,  the  burst  of  confidence,  that 
was  foreign  to  his  nature — and  for  which  he  was 
likely  to  hold  Parkington  responsible,  or,  at  least, 
to  distrust  him,  hereafter. 

And  this  did  not  chime  with  Parkington's  idea, 
If  he  were  going  to  pay  court  to  the  daughter,  with 
any  notion  of  matrimony,  it  were  well  not  to  have 
the  father's  ill  will,  especially,  when  it  involved  such 
a  confession  as  he  would  have  to  make. 

So  he  turned  the  talk  into  less  personal  channels 
— of  the  yield  of  tobacco,  the  manner  of  curing  and 
packing  it,  the  custom  duties,  and  the  varying  prices 
which  it  brought  in  London.  Marbury  talked 
freely  and  interestingly.  It  was  his  life's  work, 
and  no  man  in  the  Province  was  more  conversant 
with  the  subject  and  all  its  ramifications.  He  had 


SIR  EDWARD  LAYS  PLANS  99 

grown  tobacco,  as  servant  and  master,  for  thirty- 
five  years ;  he  could  tell  to  a  pound  what  his  yields 
had  been  every  year,  what  it  had  netted  after  the 
inspection  duties  were  collected,  and  what  his  profits 
were.  By  the  Act  of  Assembly,  passed  only  three 
years  before,  tobacco  was  the  staple  currency  of 
Maryland — every  officer,  from  Governor  down 
through  the  list,  was  paid  in  it,  as  were  the  clergy, 
and  all  large  commercial  transactions  were  con 
ducted  in  warehouse  receipts  for  inspected  tobacco 
— in  fact,  no  tobacco  could  be  sold  unless  inspected 
and  passed. 

Parkington  was  not  especially  interested  in  to 
bacco,  but  he  pretended  to  be,  and  it  served  his 
purpose  admirably.  Marbury  seemed  to  forget  his 
indiscretion  of  a  short  time  ago,  and,  when  they 
came  to  the  house,  he  was  still  talking  on  tobacco. 

"  Take  me  out  to  the  fields,  sometime,"  said 
Parkington,  "  and  show  me  more  about  it — of  the 
cultivation,  I  mean." 

"  I  will  be  glad  to,  sir,  very  glad,  indeed.  You 
will  excuse  me,  now,  I  must  dress  for  breakfast." 

Parkington  sauntered  to  a  nearby  bench  and  sat 
down.  He  was  not  quite  satisfied  with  the  result  of 
his  early  morning  walk — he  was  not  so  sure  it  would 
not  have  been  better  to  decline  Marbury's  confi 
dences.  It  might  have  been  difficult  to  do,  and  it 
might  have  offended  him,  but,  it  would  have  been 
wiser,  in  the  end.  The  offense  could  not  have 
lasted,  and,  after  the  moment,  Marbury  would 


100  THE  IMPOSTOR 

thank  him  for  it.  As  it  was,  he  would  likely  hold 
it  in  mind.  It  was  only  human  nature.  Of  course, 
his  being  an  Englishman  and  a  foreigner  might 
prevent,  but  that  was  scarcely  possible.  His  one 
chance  was  to  regain  Marbury's  confidence  by  show 
ing  great  interest  in  the  plantation,  and  all  that 
concerned  it.  Good — he  would  show  it 

He  glanced  up,  to  see  Captain  Herford  coming 
toward  him. 

"  The  top  of  the  morning,  to  you,  Captain,"  he 
said ;  "  I  hope  I  see  you  well.'* 

"  I  do  not  know  how  you  see  me,"  said  the  other, 
shortly.  "  It  depends  on  your  eyesight." 

"  And  that  tells  me,"  said  Parkington,  indif 
ferently  amused,  "  that  you  are  out  of  sorts.  Bet 
ter  go  down  to  the  river  and  take  a  cold  bath — there 
is  nothing  like  a  cold  bath,  Herford,  to  put  one  in 
tune  with  the  morning." 

"  You  have  tried  it,  I  apprehend,"  ironically. 

"  No,  there  was  no  need — I  am  always  in  tune." 

"  And,  hence,  particularly  able  to  look  after 
those  of  us  who  are  not,"  Herford  sneered.  "  Has 
it  ever  occurred  to  you  that  it  is  a  bit  gratuitous?  " 

"  Yes  !  "  said  Parkington,  and  laughed.  "  That 
is  why  I  never  do,  unless  they  inflict  themselves  upon 
me.  In  plain  words,  Herford,  get  in  a  good  humor 
or  get  away.  You  intrude  on  my  privacy — and  the 
least  you  can  do  is  to  be  pleasant. — Your  face,  at 
present,  does  not  harmonize  with  the  landscape — it 
spoils  the  picture.  Pray,  withdraw  it !  " 


SIR  EDWARD  LAYS  PLANS  101 

The  other  looked  at  him,  sourly,  uncertain  for  the 
moment  how  to  take  him — then  a  surly  smile  over 
spread  his  face. 

"  The  picture  brightens  !  "  exclaimed  Parking- 
ton.  "  Let  it  grow,  let  it  grow !  " 

"  Damn  these  black  servants  !  "  the  Captain  broke 
out. — "  Laid  out  my  gray  suit  instead  of  the  dark 
blue,  as  I  ordered,  and  was  not  around  when  I 
got  up." 

"  You  have  got  on  the  blue,  I  observe." 

"  Yes — got  it  out  myself ;  and  he  got  my  riding 
whip.  They  are  all  worthless,  sir,  damn  worth 
less  ! " 

"  I  dare  say  they  are — but  think  of  the  satisfac 
tion  in  being  able  to  beat  them.  You  work  off 
your  surplus  feelings,  and  at  no  loss  to  yourself. 
A  slave  dare  not  leave  you." 

Herford  stared  at  him.  "  He  is  not  my  slave," 
he  said ;  "  he  is  one  of  old  Marbury's." 

"  Oh !  and  yet  you  beat  him  ?  " 

"  Certainly — you  beat  any  slave  who  disobeys 
orders." 

"  Is  that  the  general  practice  ?  "  Parkington  in 
quired. 

"  The  general  practice  is  to  do  as  you  wish  with 
them,"  the  other  answered,  sharply. 

"  But  suppose  Marbury  should  not  care  to  have 
his  slaves  beaten — what  then  ?  " 

"  Then  he  has  no  business  to  assign  one  to  me 
for  a  servant.  Oh,  it  is  all  understood — and,  what 


102  THE  IMPOSTOR 

is  more,  he  will  get  another  trouncing,  if  I  mention 
it  to  the  Marburys." 

Parkington  nodded.  "  I  see,"  he  said ;  "  you 
have  a  way,  here,  we,  of  the  old  country,  do  not 
understand." 

"  You  would  understand  it  quick  enough,  if  you 
lived  here." 

"  And  do  you  not  ever  try  to  manage  them  with 
kindness — do  you  whip  them  for  every  offense?  " 

Herford  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  Thank 
God!  I  do  not  own  any — but,  if  I  did " 

Parkington  smiled.  "  I  take  it,  that  the  dis 
position  to  beat  them  is  in  the  inverse  ratio  to  the 
number  owned." 

"What?" 

"  I  mean,  that  the  more  slaves  one  owns  the  less 
disposed  he  is  to  have  them  whipped.  You,  who 
confess  to  possessing  none,  are  very  ready  to  beat 
them  all." 

"  Are  you  trying  to  pick  a  quarrel  with  me?  " 
the  Captain,  demanded  angrily. 

"  There  you  go,  spoiling  the  picture  again !  " 
Sir  Edward  laughed.  "  I  shall  have  to  ask  you  to 
take  your  face — ah !  here  comes  one  who,  assuredly, 
will  not  spoil  the  picture.  Bon  jour,  mademoi 
selle!  "  he  called,  springing  up  and  going  forward. 

"  What  are  you  two  men  doing? "  said  Miss 
Stirling. — "  Why,  Captain  Herford,  what  ails 
you?  your  face  is  as  glum  as  the  Lord  Chancellor's." 

"  It  will  be  so  no  longer,"  Herford  answered. 


SIR  EDWARD  LAYS  PLANS  103 

"  Even  the  Lord  Chancellor's  would  reflect  the  pres 
ence  of  such  a  luminary." 

She  knitted  her  brows,  as  though  perplexed. 
"  By  which,  I  infer,  you  mean,  I  am  a  luminary. 
Is  that  complimentary?  " 

"  It  is — at  least,  it  was  so  intended." 

"  How  very  nice !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  Your  com 
pliments  are  so  delicate,  oftentimes  go  over  my  head 
— a  lovely  view,  Sir  Edward !  "  turning  toward  him. 

"  Charming — charming !  "  said  he,  looking 
straight  at  her. 

"  I  mean,  there !  "  (pointing  to  the  landscape). 

"  Just  what  I  was  trying  to  impress  on  Captain 
Herford " 

"Trying?"  she  echoed; — "surely,  it  took  no 
trying." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say  it  did — in  fact,  he  steadily 
refused  to  see  it." 

She  turned  and  looked,  curiously,  at  Herford. 

"  All  of  which  means,  that  he  is  out  of  sorts," 
she  said.  "  Well,  I  decline  to  talk  to  a  man  who  is 
out  of  humor  on  such  a  day.  When  you  are  willing 
to  smile,  and  mean  it,  you  may  come  back.  Au 
revoir,  sir,  au  revoir." 


VIII 

THE    MEANING    OF    A    SHRUG 

IN  the  late  afternoon,  the  Snowdens  arrived  from 
Montpelier,  and,  a  little  later,  the  Platers  from  Sot- 
terly.  They  were  young  married  people  and 
added  much  to  the  company.  Mrs.  Snowden  was  a 
Leigh  of  Virginia,  and  Mrs.  Plater  was  the  only 
daughter  and  heiress  of  Colonel  John  Rousby,  of 
Rousby  Hall  in  Calvert  County. 

The  former  came  down  the  Patuxent  in  their 
barge,  rowed  by  a  dozen  sturdy  blacks ;  the  Platers 
by  coach  and  four,  with  postilions  and  footmen,  and 
made  a  gallant  show  as  they  dashed  up  the  avenue 
and  drew  up,  with  a  grand  flourish,  before  the 
entrance. 

The  company  was  on  the  lawn,  at  the  side  of  the 
house,  playing  at  bowls  or  idling  the  day  away 
as  they  saw  fit,  but  they  crowded  forward,  and 
made  a  great  to  do  over  them. 

"  I  vow  I  am  almost  dead,"  said  Mrs.  Plater, 
at  last ;  "  pray,  get  me  away,  Judith,  or  I  shall 
faint.  The  roads  are  terrific,  and  the  jolting  has 
well  nigh  finished  me." 

"  You  poor  dear ! "  exclaimed  Miss  Marbury, 
and  straightway  carried  her  off  to  her  room. 

Miss  Stirling  was  not  in  the  company  that  re 
ceived  the  Snowdens  and  the  Platers.  She  saw  them 
come,  from  behind  the  curtains  of  her  window,  but 
did  not  show  herself.  She  was  in  deshabiUt,  which 
104 


THE  MEANING  OF  A  SHRUG       105 

was  sufficient  excuse,  and  she  was  engaged  in  writ 
ing  a  letter,  which  was  abundant  excuse — more 
especially,  as  it  was  of  exceeding  length  and  filled 
with  gossip. 

It  was  to  Lady  Catherwood,  in  London,  and 
essayed  to  relate  all  that  had  happened  since  she 
left,  and  besought  her  to  reply,  in  kind.  Much  of 
it  had  to  do  with  the  men  she  had  met,  less,  with  the 
women — though  they  came  in  for  a  share.  Mr. 
Worthington,  Mr.  Paca,  Mr.  Brice,  and  Mr.  Con 
stable  she  found  most  agreeable  and  charming,  Cap 
tain  Herford  was  mainly  a  bore,  though,  at  times, 
he  could  be  most  entertaining.  He  was  a  good 
catch,  as  he  was  reputed  to  be  wealthy,  and,  in  addi 
tion,  was  an  officer  in  the  Royal  American  Regi 
ment.  He  had  conceived  a  most  absurd  fondness 
for  herself,  however ;  which  was  most  embarrassing, 
because  he  did  not  want  to  give  any  of  the  other 
men  a  chance  to  be  nice  to  her.  She  did  not  care  to 
snub  him,  on  her  uncle's  account,  but  it  was  pretty 
hard,  sometimes,  not  to  do  it. 

There  was  one  man,  who  had  attracted  her  more 
than  all  the  others — indeed,  she  could  grow  very 
fond  of  him,  if  he  would  only  respond  in  the  slight 
est  degree.  Mr.  Richard  Maynadier  was  his  name. 
He  was  considerable  older,  was,  in  fact,  a  member  of 
the  Council  and  a  man  of  material  importance  in  the 
Colony.  She  had  done  everything  to  attract  him, 
consistent  with  maidenly  reserve — and,  may  be,  a 
bit  more;  and  he  knew  it,  too,  and  laughed  her, 
good  naturedly,  aside.  He  was  courteous,  of 


106  THE  IMPOSTOR 

course,  in  the  very  best  way,  but  steadily  refused 
to  be  brought  nearer.  And  it  piqued  her.  To 
have  all  the  men  devoted,  except  the  one  she  desired ! 
It  was  not  at  all  serious,  but,  mainly,  because  he 
would  not  have  it.  In  fact,  if  there  was  any  one  in 
Maryland  who  might  persuade  her  to  remain,  it 
was  Richard  Maynadier. 

At  the  end,  she  wrote  this  postscript — which  was 
the  real  object  of  the  letter: 

"  P.  S.  Did  you  ever  Chance  to  Meet  a  Sir  Ed 
ward  Parkington,  or  do  you  Know  of  Him?  He  is 
arrived,  lately,  at  Annapolis,  bringing  Letters  of 
Introduction  to  Governor  Sharpe  and  Mr.  Dulany. 
He  tells  a  wondrous  story  of  Shipwreck,  and  being 
cast  up  by  the  waves,  some  miles  below  here,  and 
All  on  board  being  lost,  Save  only  him.  He  is 
exceedingly  Affable,  and  pleasant,  and  has  made  a 
Good  Impression  on  Every  one.  I  wish  you  would 
Ascertain — if  you  do  not  already  know — whether 
he  is  Married — his  actions  are  those  of  a  Bachelor, 
but  no  one  has  Inquired,  and  I  care  not  to  ask  him. 
He  has  the  loveliest  Manners,  he  dances  the  Minuet 
with  Marvelous  Grace,  and  he  can  make  love  better 
than  any  Man  I  ever  Met.  He  says  he  is  going  to 
stay  the  Summer.  He  is  Tall  and  slender,  with 
black  hair,  blue  eyes  and  fair  complexion.  Be  sure 
to  tell  me,  when  you  Answer — and  anything  else 
you  know  concerning  him. 

"  M.  '£." 


THE  MEANING  OF  A  SHRUG       107 

'*  I  wish  I  had  written  three  weeks  ago,"  she 
reflected.  "  It  will  require  nine  or  ten  weeks  for 
this  letter  to  reach  England,  and  as  many  coming 
back,  and,  allowing  for  the  necessary  delay  at 
both  ends  and  the  time  she  takes  to  reply,  it  will 
be  all  of  five  months  and,  maybe,  six,  before  I  can 
hope  for  an  answer.  That  will  be  the  first  of 
November,  at  least — and,  like  enough,  you  will 
be  gone  before,  then,  Sir  Edward,"  she  said,  look 
ing  out  at  the  man  standing  in  the  group  on  the 
lawn  below  her. 

She  folded  the  letter  carefully,  and  affixed  th« 
seals,  then  laid  it  aside,  to  be  sent  to  Annapolis 
and  included  in  his  Excellency's  mail  for  forward 
ing.  In  that  way,  she  would  save  postage,  and  as 
the  missive  was  several  ounces  in  weight,  at  five 
shillings  the  ounce,  it  made  purely  friendly  com 
munications  rather  expensive. 

It  was  nearly  supper-time  when  she  appeared  on 
the  lawn,  looking  exceedingly  sweet  in  a  flowered 
pink  silk,  to  find  a  new  arrival — Mr.  Richard  May- 
nadier.  He  had  ridden  across  from  his  place,  Rose 
Hill,  which  adjoined  Hedgely  Hall  on  the  North. 

"  Ah,  Miss  Stirling ! "  he  said,  with  a  low  bow. 
"  The  evening  star  shines  pale  beside  you." 

"  And  the  morning  star  not  at  all !  "  she  laughed. 
"  Thanks,  monsieur,  my  warmest  thanks. — But  I 
wonder  that  you  are  not  afraid  to  pay  me  com 
pliments." 

"  No,"  he  said.  "  Compliments  are  safe — they 
lead  to  nothing." 


108  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  Because  they  are  mainly  false?  "  she  asked. 

"  Not  exactly — because  they  do  not  commit  one, 
I  should  say — and  every  one  takes  them  at  their 
value ;  there  is  no  danger  of  being  misunderstood." 

"  You  are  dreadfully  afraid  of  being  misunder 
stood  ! "  she  mocked. 

"  Perhaps  !  "  he  smiled.  "  What  these  young 
macaronies "  (with  a  motion,  indicating  those 
around  him)  "  could  venture  with  impunity,  we  older 
heads  dare  not.  It  is  not  dignified  for  us." 

"  Then  do  not  ever  fall  in  love,  Mr.  Maynadier; 
love  is  the  most  undignified  of  all  our  frailties." 

"  In  what  way  is  it  undignified?  "  he  asked. 

**  In  every  way — particularly,  in  the  exhibition 
of  one's  feelings.  Every  one  makes  sport  of  the 
lover — every  one  laughs  at  him." 

"  Then  the  world  is  overrun  with  fools — for  they 
are  but  laughing  at  themselves.  No,  no,  my  lady ! 
I  find  no  fault  with  love,  ever — only  with  him  who 
simulates  it,  and  is  old  enough  to  know  better. 
Comprenez  vous?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  understand,"  she  said,  with  a  frank 
smile ;  "  but  I  do  not  agree  with  you." 

"  A  woman's  privilege !  she  never  agrees,  and  is 
fascinating  always." 

"  Perversity,  you  think  ?  " 

"  Diversity ! "  he  laughed,  and  bowed  himself 
away. 

At  supper,  a  little  later,  he  occupied  a  place 
beside  Miss  Marbury.  Parkington  was  at  the  op 
posite  end  of  the  table,  one  removed  from  the  silent 


THE  MEANING  OF  A  SHRUG       109 

host,  whom  he  was  trying,  as  best  he  could,  to  bring 
into  the  conversation,  but  with  indifferent  success. 
A  word,  a  nod,  a  short  sentence,  rarely,  was  all 
that  he  could  elicit.  But  even  Maynadier  could  not 
have  got  as  much  out  of  him — and  he  watched  them, 
contemplatively,  through  the  meal 

What  was  the  man's  idea — what  was  his  pur 
pose?  What  was  there  about  him  to  make  old 
Marbury  talk — why  was  he  taking  the  trouble  to 
make  him  talk?  In  short,  had  he  an  object  in  it? 
But,  then,  why  was  he  in  Maryland  at  all?  What 
was  he  doing  here?  Was  he  a  spy — a  secret  agent, 
sent  hither  for  a  purpose ;  and  what  was  that  pur 
pose?  He  came  duly  accredited,  and  his  letters 
were  in  form  and  regular — the  signature,  indeed, 
the  entire  writing,  was  Lord  Baltimore's  own. 
....  It  was  very  peculiar,  surely.  Of  course,  the 
Governor  knew — he  would  have  been  informed — but 
the  Governor  had  seen  fit  to  be  silent,  and  even  they, 
of  the  Council,  did  not  pry  in  matters  which  did  not 
concern  them — his  Excellency  had  a  way  about  him 
that  forbade  it. 

He  had  met  Sir  Edward  Parkington  in  London, 
two  years  before,  and  this  was  not  he.  But  he  had 
seen  Colonel  Sharpe,  at  the  Races,  introduced  him  as 
Sir  Edward,  and  so,  a  little  later,  when  he  himself 
was  presented  by  Miss  Stirling,  he  had  accepted 
it.  The  man  knew  how  to  act  the  part — indeed, 
he  appeared  to  be  far  above  the  calibre  of  Parking- 
ton.  Parkington,  as  he  remembered,  was  pretty 
much  of  a  rake — one  of  Baltimore's  own.  But 


110  THE  IMPOSTOR 

this  man  had  been  very  circumspect,  and  his  deport 
ment  most  proper He  might  be  a  great 

noble — his  manner  suggested  it — come  over  incog, 
to  view  the  country,  and  to  get  information  at  first 
hand  on  the  temper  of  the  people.  Indeed,  he 
might  be  anything  and  any  one — but,  assuredly,  he 
was  not  Sir  Edward  Parkington.  However,  it  was 
not  his  business  to  unmask  him,  after  Colonel 
Sharpe  had  accepted  him  and  vouched  for  him. 

"  Why  did  you  shrug  your  shoulders  ?  "  Miss 
Marbury  asked,  suddenly. 

"  Did  I  shrug  my  shoulders  ?  "  he  said.  "  I  did 
not  know  it." 

"  Yes,  you  did ;    now  why  did  you  do  it  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  know." 

"  Which  is  another  way  of  saying,  I  should  not 
have  asked." 

"  You  may  ask  me  anything,"  he  said. 

**  And  not  give  offense,  you  mean,"  she  supple 
mented.  "  But  you  reserve  the  right  to  answer 
only  what  you  choose." 

"  Do  you  think  so?  "  smiling. 

"Yes,  I  do. — Please  tell  me,  Dick?"  she  plead. 

"  Please  tell  you  what?  "  he  said,  indulgently. 

**  Why  you  shrugged  your  shoulders — you  were 
looking  toward  father — has  he  done  anything — I 
mean,  was  he  the  cause?  " 

"  No,  child,  he  had  nothing  to  do  with  it." 

**  You  are  not  deceiving  me  ?  " 

"  Have  I  ever  deceived  you  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  No !  no !  "  she  said.     "  I  did  not  mean  it — but 


THE  MEANING  OF  A  SHRUG       111 

I  thought  that,  maybe,  he  had — you  understand." 

"  I  understand  that  you  are  unnecessarily  sensi 
tive,"  he  answered.  "  Your  father  is  a  bit  eccen 
tric,  but  he  is  neither  churlish  nor  ill-mannered — 
and  he  is  rich  enough  to  be  both,  if  he  so  wished.** 

"  You  believe  in  wealth,  then  ? "  she  asked, 
"  You  believe  that  wealth  is  equal  to  birth  ?  " 

"  In  a  social  sense,  yes,"  said  he.  "  Both  are  the 
keys  to  good  society. — By  birth  one  belongs,  by 
wealth  one  buys  a  right  to  belong.  It  is  all  the 
same.  For  my  part,  I  would  rather  be  the  wealthy 
buyer  than  the  poor  belonger — it  is  so  much  more 
satisfactory." 

"  But  when  one  has  both  wealth  and  birth — like 
you,"  she  persisted,  "  how  do  the  buyers  appear — 
what  do  you  think  of  them?  " 

He  leaned  close  over.  "  Just  what  they  are 
worth,"  he  answered — "  just  what  they  are  worth." 

"And  what  are  we  worth,  Dick?"  she  said  im 
pulsively  ;  "  we  are  buyers — what  are  we  worth  ?  " 

"  As  a  general  proposition,"  laying  his  hand  on 
her  arm,  and  speaking  very  earnestly,  "  the  Mar- 
burys  are  worth  exactly  what  they  measure.  You, 
my  dear,  have  measured  up,  far  up." 

She  looked  at  him  with  searching  eyes.  "  You 
mean  it — you  are  sure  you  mean  it  ?  " 

"  Sure — absolutely  sure !  " 

She  gave  a  little  sigh  of  relief.  "  You  are  very 
good — I  am  satisfied  now — if  you  approve,  there 
will  be  none  who  dare  disapprove." 


112  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  There  will  be  none  who  care  to  disapprove," 
he  said.  "  Yours  was  a  more  difficult  case  than 
George's — he  had  only  the  men  to  satisfy,  and  that 
is  easy,  where  one  is  a  good  fellow  and  a  manly. 
You  had  the  women — and  women  are  jealous,  vin 
dictive  and  irresponsible.  But  you  won.  They 
all  are  for  you — there  is  not  one  that  is  even 
undecided." 

"  I  am  glad,  very  glad,"  she  said.  "  I  want  to 
please  them — I  was  afraid  I  had  failed.  You  are 
a  dear  to  tell  me  this — a  perfect  dear,  Dick." 

The  sweet  unaffectedness  was  refreshing.  It  is 
not  possible,  he  thought,  that  the  girl  does  not 
know  she  is  beautiful.  One  look  in  her  mirror 
would  tell  her,  one  glance  at  her  figure — her  com 
plexion,  her  eyes,  her  hair — oh !  assuredly,  she  must 
know  it. 

He  had  seen  it  coming,  had  seen  it  grow.  Six 
years  ago,  when  they  first  came  to  Annapolis,  he 
had  marked  her — the  young  girl  just  budding  into 
womanhood.  He  had  been  of  those  who  early  ac 
cepted  the  Marburys,  and  four  years  later,  when 
Hedgely  Hall  was  offered  for  sale,  the  fact  that 
his  place  adjoined  it,  was,  he  knew,  a  consideration 
for  its  purchase.  Since  then,  he  had  watched  the 
woman  beside  him  perfect  into  the  beauty  of  to 
day — with  all  the  winsomeness,  all  the  freshness,  of 
the  unspoiled  and  unaffected.  He  had  seen  it  as 
none  other,  for  he  had  a  place  in  the  household 
which  was  for  him  alone — he  was  guide  and  mentor 


THE  MEANING  OF  A  SHRUG 


and  elder  brother  to  her,  all  in  one.  The  parents 
were  not  capable,  at  times,  of  advising,  so  he  took 
the  duty  on  himself  —  not  that  she  needed  much 
counsel,  but,  when  she  did,  she  knew  where  to  find 
it.  It  was  at  his  own  request  that  she  had  come  to 
call  him  "  Dick,"  dropping  the  Mr.  Maynadier, 
as  quite  too  formal,  and  evading  Richard  "  because 
that  was  what  all  his  other  friends  called  him." 
He  was  so  much  older,  —  later,  he  had  liked  the  in 
timacy  of  it,  the  spirit  of  comradeship  —  to-night, 
he  had  suddenly  realized  that,  even  to  him,  she  was 
no  longer  the  sweet-faced  girl,  whom  he  had  petted, 
and  chided,  and  advised,  by  turns.  She  was  able  to 
stand  alone,  to  be  made  love  to  —  and  had  been  these 
many  months  !  .  .  .  .  Yet  none  had  sought  her,  as 
a  lover  seeks  !  And,  why  ?  Was  it  because  of  her 
birth?  Was  it  because  of  him  —  the  friend?  Was 
it  because  of  herself  —  would  she  have  none  of 
them?  - 

"  What  is  the  matter,  Dick  ?  "  she  said,  "  why 
do  you  not  answer?  Your  eyes  are  on  me,  but  your 
mind  is  far  away." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon  !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  it  was 
rude,  I  know  —  what  did  you  say  ?  " 

"  I  asked  why  it  was  you  shrugged  your  shoulders 
—  why  was  it?  " 

"  I  was  cold  —  it  is  drafty  here." 

"  Nonsense  !  —  be  serious  -  " 

w  I  cannot.     I  am  -  " 
8 


114  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  Dick,  you  are  possessed !  "  she  laughed.  "  You 
are " 

*'  I  am,"  he  cut  in — "  I  am  possessed  of  shrugs — 
they  come  and  go  as  they  will — I  am  not  responsible 
—I  am " 

**  You  are  trying  to  avoid  telling  me — confess 
it" 

"  Now,  Judith " 

"  Do  you  not  see,  Dick,  that  you  have  aroused 
my  curiosity  to  an  ungovernable  pitch.  You  must 
tell  me — and  now — now — now !  " 

He  threw  up  his  hands  in  mock  despair. 

"  But  suppose  I  cannot,"  he  said. 

"  Cannot?  "  she  echoed — "  You  do  not  appear 
to  have  lost  the  power  of  speech." 

"  Touche!  "  he  laughed.  "  May,  would  be  the 
better  word — I  may  not  tell." 

"Why?"  she  said — "why  may  you  not  tell?" 

"  Because  it  is  inexpedient,"  he  answered. 

"  A  matter  of  State  ?  "  she  demanded. 

"  No." 

"  Violating  a  confidence?  " 

"  No." 

"  Inexpedient !  "  she  reflected — "  Inexpedient ! — 
there  can  be  but  one  more  reason: — it  might  pro 
voke  scandal,  if  known.  Is  that  it?  " 

"  You  are  the  very  devil,  Judith !  "  he  exclaimed ; 
— "  yes,  that  is  it." 

"  Oh,  delightful !  delightful !  Come,  sir,  what  is 
it?  Now,  I  will  not  be  put  off." 


THE  MEANING  OF  A  SHRUG       115 

He  looked  at  her  doubtfully,  undecided  what  to 
do.  He  thought  he  could  trust  her — he  felt  sure 
that  he  could.  But,  what  if  she  babbled? 

"  You  do  not  trust  me,"  she  said.  "  You  fear 
that  I  shall  tell." 

"  No,  not  exactly,"  he  said,  "  I  trust  you,  but 
I  fear  that,  Inadvertently,  you  might  tell. — How 
ever,  you  shall  know  it." 

She  turned  toward  him,   impulsively 

"  But,  not  now — some  one  might  overhear.  Take 
me  for  a  walk  down  the  avenue,  after  supper." 

"  Would  you  rather  not  tell?  "  she  asked.  "  Be 
cause,  if  you  would " 

"  How  like  a  woman !  "  he  laughed.  "  Work 
one  up  to  the  pitch,  and  then  grow  faint-hearted. 
No,  you  will  have  to  hear  it,  now — and  be  bored." 

"  There  is  no  danger,"  she  replied. — "  I'll  take 
you  the  walk,  after  supper — and  I'll  take  you 
whether  you  tell  me,  or  whether  you  do  not."  And 
she  gave  him  a  deliberate  and  dazzling  smile — which 
set  Mr.  Richard  Maynadier  to  thinking  more  than 
ever. 

A  little  later,  when,  the  supper  ended  and  her 
duties  as  hostess  were  done  for  the  time,  she  came 
out  on  the  lawn,  it  was  to  find  Richard  Maynadier 
seated  alone  and  waiting.  He  arose  at  once  and 
bowed,  and,  without  further  ado  she  slipped  her 
hand  through  his  arm,  and  they  strolled  down  the 
avenue  toward  the  water.  The  full  moon  had  just 
pushed  its  way  through  the  fringe  of  trees  beyond 


116  THE  IMPOSTOR 

the  Patuxent,  the  breath  of  the  evening  came  to 
them,  the  fragrance  of  the  roses  and  the  lilacs,  a 
gentle  breeze  sang  softly  through  the  leaves,  and 
whispered  among  the  branches. 

A  faint  laugh  floated  to  them,  and  then  another 
— and,  presently,  up  the  avenue,  strolled  Miss  Stir 
ling  and  Sir  Edward  Parkington. 

"  Ah  1  what  have  we  here  ?  "  exclaimed  Miss  Stir 
ling.  "  Another  couple !  " 

"  Going  out  into  the  moonlight,"  said  Maynadier, 
quickly,  "  not  into  the  dark." 

"  Ho,  ho !  "  Sir  Edward  laughed,  "  what  have  you 
to  say  now,  my  lady?  " 

"  That  he  is  most  impertinent." 

"  Granted,"  returned  Maynadier.  "  What 
else?" 

"  Nothing,  now,"  came  over  Tier  shoulder ;  "  I 
shall  consider  the  penalty." 

"  What  did  she  mean  by  '  the  penalty  '  ?  "  Judith 
asked,  when  they  were  out  of  hearing. 

"  I  have  not  the  slightest  notion,"  said  he. 

"  Has  she  caught  you,  too, — I  mean,  have  you 
joined  the  others  in  dancing  attendance  on  her?  " 

"  Not  to  my  knowledge,"  he  smiled — "  and,  I 
am  sure,  not  to  hers." 

"  Well,  you  are  about  the  only  one  who  has 
escaped — you  and  George.  And  George  is  too 
busy  with  every  one  to  specialize — just  yet." 

"  Give  him  his  head,"  said  Maynadier ;  "  he  will 
settle  into  his  stride,  some  day." 


THE  MEANING  OF  A  SHRUG       117 

"  If  he  does  not  settle  pretty  soon,  father  will 
have  the  fainting  sickness.  He  bought  Hedgely 
Hall  for  George's  wedding  gift — and  he  still  has  it 
on  his  hands,  with  no  prospects.  However,  no 
match  is  much  better  than  a  bad  one." 

"  George  will  never  make  a  bad  marriage,  trust 
him  for  that — and  trust  your  father,  too." 

"  Trust  father !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  I  reckon  I 
do — he  is  the  dearest  parent  any  girl  ever  had.  I 
was  only  trying  to  be  funny,  and  without  success — 
even  with  you.  It  is  not  in  me." 

"  The  trouble  is  with  me — I  took  you  seri 
ously " 

"  They  all  do — every  body  takes  me  seriously. 
They  will  not  let  me  be  absurd,  even  when  I  try." 

He  looked  at  her  with  a  puzzled  frown — was  she 
in  jest  or  earnest?  At  all  events,  she  was  showing 
a  new  side  to  him,  to-night — or  he  was  seeing  it,  for 
the  first  time 

Her  light  laugh  broke  in  on  him.  "  Confess 
that  you  do  not  understand  me,  to-night ! — Well,  I 
do  not  understand  myself,  so,  let  us  drop  me,  and 
take  up  the  secret — the  great  secret  you  were  afraid 
some  one  would  overhear,  at  table: — why  did  you 
shrug  your  shoulders,  sir?  " 

"  The  specific  reason  is  of  no  value,"  he  answered, 
"  it  simply  fitted  in  with  my  thoughts,  at  the  time. 
But  the  secret  itself  is  very  different.  It  may  re 
sult  in  nothing,  that  is,  nothing  may  come  of  it 
(which  I  doubt),  but  assuredly  it  is  a  fact." 


118  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  Bravo !  "  she  cried.  "  You  do  it  well,  Dick, 
splendidly,  indeed.  You  almost  convince  me  you 
have  discovered  something." 

"  Discovered  conveys  the  idea  of  going  in  search 
of,"  he  said,  thoughtfully. — "  No,  I  did  not  dis 
cover  this — it  was  thrust  upon  me.  I  just  noticed 
it,  casually.  I " 

"  Dick,  do  get  on !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  You've 
got  me  all  on  edge.  Out  with  it ! " 

He  chuckled  softly  to  himself.  "  You  know  Sir 
Edward  Parkington  ?  " 

"  Casually — he  is  a  guest,  at  present,  at  Hedgely 
Hall,"  as  though  she  were  imparting  information 
of  the  most  confidential  sort. 

"  Oh,  no,  he  is  not !  " 

"  Do  be  serious,  Dick — what  about  him?  " 

"  You  thought  you  passed  him,  a  moment  ago, 
with  Miss  Stirling,  did  you  not?  " 

"  Of  course !  " 

"  Well,  that  shows  how  easy  it  is  to  be  deceived. 
You  did  not." 

"  Are  you  crazy,  Dick  ?  Certainly  it  was  Sir 
Edward." 

He  shook  his  head. 

"  Who  was  it,  then  ?  "  she  demanded. 

"  I  do  not  know — I  only  know  it  was  not  Sir  Ed 
ward.  He  is  not  he !  " 

She  stared  at  him. 

"  He  is  not  he !  "  she  repeated.  "  What  do  you 
mean?  " 


THE  MEANING  OF,  A  SHRUG       119 

"  I  mean,"  he  said,  the  smile  broadening  into  a 
gentle  laugh,  "  that  the  man  you  know  as  Sir 
Edward  Parkington  is  not  Sir  Edward  Parkington. 
He  is  an  impostor." 

"  Dick !  "  she  cried.  "  Do  you  mean  it — are  you 
sure?  " 

"  Perfectly  sure,"  he  answered,  "  perfectly  sure." 

"  But  I  do  not  understand — he  brought  letters 
to  Governor  Sharpe  and  Mr.  Dulany.  Were  they 
forged?  " 

"  No,  they  were  genuine  enough." 

"  Then  what " 

"  That  is  just  the  difficulty.  I  do  not  know 
anything  more  than  this:  the  man  who  presented 
them  is  not  Parkington." 

"  And  how  do  you  know  it?  " 

"  I  met  Parkington,  in  London,  two  years 
ago •' 

"  And  this  man  is  not  he?  " 

"  Exactly.  I  saw  him  several  times ;  he  seemed 
to  be  interested  in  the  Colonies.  He  was  a  small 
man — very  much  inclined  to  stoutness.  Oh,  I  can 
not  possibly  be  mistaken.  I  detected  the  imposture 
the  moment  I  met  him." 

"  And  that  was  when  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  At  the  Annapolis  races,  the  day  subsequent  to 
his  arrival." 

"  And  you  have  permitted  him  to  masquerade — 
to  be  received  by  your  friends — to  enter  their 
houses? — Oh,  Dick!" 


120  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  Your  criticism  may  be  just,"  he  said.  "  And 
I  be  wrong  in  my  surmise.  The  fellow  may  be  a 
rogue — but,  somehow,  I  doubt  it.  In  manners, 
and  bearing,  and  address  he  is  far  superior  to  the 
real  Sir  Edward — and,  also,  in  breeding,  if  I  am 
any  judge.  If  this  be  true,  then  he  is  of  superior 
birth.  Now,  why  should  such  a  man  be  here,  in  dis 
guise,  and  with  his  letters  apparently  regular.  I 
do  not  know — but  they  do  queer  things  in  London. 
Besides,  the  Governor  has  accepted  him.  He  must 
have  been  informed — and,  if  so,  it  is  not  for  me 
to  tear  off  the  mask." 

"  But  if  he  be  an  impostor — if  he  has  stolen  the 
letters,  and  the  name?  " 

"  That  is  scarcely  probable ;  at  any  rate,  I  have 
given  him  the  benefit  of  the  doubt,  and,  thus  far, 
he  has  deported  himself  perfectly — much  better  than 
Parkington  could  have  done.  For  my  part,  I  be 
lieve  he  is  sent  here  for  a  purpose  and  is,  in  rank, 
very  much  above  the  one  he  personates." 

She  nodded  her  head,  gravely. 

"  You  know  best,"  she  said ;  "  but,  now,  if  ever 
you  want  to  unmask  him,  you  must  lie.  It  would 
sound  very  well,  indeed,  for  Richard  Maynadier  to 
say :  '  I  knew  him,  at  once,  for  an  impostor,  but  I 
let  him  fool  you  for  a  month  (or  two  months,  or 
three  months,  as  the  case  may  be),  before  I  told.' ' 

"  And  for  that  very  reason,  I  shall  not  tell," 
said  he.  "  I  am  not  my  brother's  keeper.  I  will 


THE  MEANING  OP  A  SHRUG        121 

look  out  for  myself,  and  my  friends,  if  need  be,  the 
rest  may  protect  themselves,  as  best  they  can." 

"  Are  the  Marbury s  your  friends  ?  "  she  asked. 

"  Have   the   Marburys   needed   my    protection, 

yet?" 

"  There  is  an  impostor  a  guest  in  their  house." 

"  My  dear  girl,  you  assume  he  is  an  impostor 
for  personal  gain — I,  that  he  is  an  impostor  for 
purposes  of  State.  I  would  receive  him  as  a  guest 
at  Rose  Hill." 

"  You  are  warned — we  were  not" 

"  Whom  his  Excellency  sponsors,  a  citizen  may 
entertain  without  discredit." 

"  I  reckon  you  are  right,"  she  agreed,  after  a 
moment's  thought.  "  The  Governor  vouches  for 
him,  and  that  is  sufficient.  But,  all  the  same,  it 
gives  me  a  queer  sort  of  feeling  to  be  in  the  same 
house  with — Sir  Edward." 

'"  You  see,  it  would  have  been  much  better  not  to 
tell  you — but  you  are  so  persistent ! "  and  he 
laughed. 

They  had  come  out  into  the  open  moonlight, 
on  the  river  bank.  She  looked  at  him  with  an  odd 
smile. 

"  Yes,  I  am,"  she  replied.  "  But  it  has  not  had 
much  success,  thus  far." 

And  though  Maynadier  besought  her  earnestly, 
she  would  not  explain. 


IX 

THE    SURPRISE 

THE  next  few  days  were  uneventful.  Richard 
Maynadier,  after  staying  until  midnight,  rode 
home,  sober  and  sedate,  with  his  body-servant,  a 
fruitless  effort  of  the  men  to  keep  him,  by  other 
means  than  simple  persuasion,  having  failed. 
Equally  futile  had  been  Miss  Stirling's  politic 
allurements,  and  George  Marbury's  importunities,, 

Sir  Eciward  Parkington  had  spent  a  number  of 
hours  with  Judith  Marbury,  and  was  rather  well 
pleased  with  them.  Not  that  he  had  ventured  on 
anything  personal, — he  was  far  too  old  a  bird — 
but  inferences  from  actions  may  be  drawn,  and 
he  thought  that  she  was  not  altogether  dense. 
Enough,  for  the  present,  if  she  gathered  that  he 
had  shown  a  slight  partiality  for  her  society.  Let 
her  get  persuaded  of  that  fact,  before  he  proceeded 
further.  He  had  all  the  summer  before  him,  and 
the  matter  could  be  worked  out,  in  that  time — if  it 
was  to  be  worked  out  at  all. 

He  had,  also,  paid  due  attention  to  the  father. 
He  had  inspected  his  tobacco  fields — had  watched 
the  slaves  and  servants  at  work — had  listened  to  a 
minute  description  of  the  manner  of  curing  and 
hogs-heading — in  fine,  had  the  whole  industry  ex 
pounded  to  him.  And,  with  it  all,  he  had  been 
122 


THE  SURPRISE 

careful  to  show  a  quiet  enthusiasm  that  did  much 
to  set  right  the  indiscretion  of  the  other  morning. 
He  wanted  to  relieve  Marbury's  mind  of  all  distrust, 
and  he  took  the  very  best  means  to  accomplish  it : — 
he  evinced  an  interest  in  the  other's  work,  and  he 
grew  confidential  himself. 

"  I  have  not  told  any  one,  not  even  Colonel 
Sharpe,"  he  said,  as  they  were  riding  in  from  the 
fields,  "  the  real  object  in  my  coming  to  America. 
I  am  thinking  of  settling  here.  Do  not  repeat  it, 
please. — Yes,  I  know  I  can  trust  you,  else  I  should 
not  have  spoken.  I  shall  look  around,  and  pick 
out  a  likely  place,  and  if  the  price  is  not  excessive, 
and  if  some  other  like  matters  can  be  arranged,  I 
am  about  ready  to  become  one  of  you." 

"  Maryland  should  be  proud  to  welcome  you ! " 
Marbury  exclaimed. 

"  Well,  there  are  other  ways  of  looking  at  it," 
said  Parkington  laughing.  "  Some  people  may  say 
that  I  should  be  glad  to  come  to  Maryland.  But 
that  is  neither  here  nor  there;  if  the  old  residents 
will  receive  me,  and  let  me  be  one  of  them,  it  is  quite 
enough." 

"  There  will  be  no  trouble  on  that  score — they 
will  be  glad  enough  to  take  you  in ! " 

"  That  is  very  good  of  you,"  (including,  by  the 
"  you,"  Marbury  among  the  old  residents),  "  I  shall 
try  to  make  a  companionable  neighbor.  I  wonder 
if  there  are  any  estates,  in  this  part  of  the  country, 
for  sale — or  which  could  be  purchased  for  a  reason- 


THE  IMPOSTOR 


able  amount.  I  like  this  section  —  it  is  a  little 
farther  South  than  Annapolis,  and,  besides,  seems 
more  fertile  —  better  adapted  for  tobacco." 

"  It  is,  sir  !  —  it  is  quite  equal  to  Virginia.  —  And, 
speaking  of  places,  you  might  get  Rousby  Hall, 
one  of  the  finest  we  have.  You  have  not  seen  it?  " 

"  No,  I  have  seen  no  place  but  this  one  —  and  it, 
I  suppose,  is  not  in  the  market." 

Old  Marbury  shook  his  head,  decisively. 

"  Not  at  any  price  !  "  he  said.  "  But  Rousby 
Hall  has  a  woman  for  the  heiress  —  she  is  here, 
now,  young  Mrs.  Plater.  Colonel  Rousby,  her 
father,  might  be  willing  to  sell  it,  for  a  good  price, 
and  pass  his  winters  in  Annapolis,  and  his  summers 
with  his  daughter,  at  Sotterly  .....  I  do  not 
know  any  other  that  could  be  had  —  Maynadier's 
is  out  of  the  question  —  and  Plater's,  and  Fitz- 
hugh's,  and  Snowden's,  and  Bladen's,  and  Ridge- 
ley's  —  no,  Rousby  Hall  is  the  only  one.  —  Do  you 
wish  to  see  it  ?  " 

"  Yes  —  sometime  before  we  leave  here  —  just  a 
glance.  I  would  not  wish  to  appear,  yet,  you 
understand  —  not  until  my  affairs  are  more  defi 
nitely  arranged." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Marbury.  "  Any  help  I  can 
give  is  yours  for  the  asking.  Meanwhile,  I  can 
ascertain  whether  Colonel  Rousby  would  consider 
selling." 

"  Yes  —  it  would  be  very  kind,"  said  Parkington, 
as  he  dismounted.  "  Meanwhile,  not  a  word." 


THE  SURPRISE  125 

"  Hum-m !  "  thought  Marbury.  "  I  shall  not  be 

the  one  to  tell  it Going  to  settle  here — > 

maybe!  He  is  not  married — I  wonder  if  Judith 

might  take  a  fancy  to  him Hum-m!  .... 

She  will  have  a  very  good  sized  dowery,  and  an 

Englishman  does  not  despise  such  things 

Well,  we  shall  see Hum-m !  "  And  he  went 

on  to  the  wharf. 

And  Parkington,  watching  him  ride  down  the 
avenue,  was  thinking. 

"  Let  that  idea  sink  in,  Marbury.  Sir  Edward 
Parkington  is  considering  settling  here — and 
marrying — with  your  permission  and  a  fitting  com 
petence.  But  Rousby  Hall?  There  is  not  money 
enough  won  across  the  card  tables,  in  all  Mary 
land,  to  buy  it, — and  I  have  no  other  source  of 

revenue I  reckon,  the  girl  herself  will  be 

sufficient;  if  I  can  win  her,  I  will  be  content. 
Afterward,  with  father's  generosity,  we  can  consider 
Rousby  Hall.  And  the  girl  is  a  beauty — ah,  here 
she  comes ! — God,  what  a  figure !  " 

"Whither  away,  Sir  Edward?"  she  asked,  see 
ing  that  he  wore  riding  boots. 

"  No  whither,"  he  said.  "  I  have  just  returned 
— your  father  and  I  were  inspecting  the  fields." 

"  You  are  a  guest  after  his  own  heart ! "  she 
laughed.  "  Are  you  really  interested,  or  is  it 
chargeable  to  good  manners  ?  " 

"  I  am  really  interested — and  one  can  learn  much 
from  your  father." 


126  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  Yes,  that  they  can,"  she  said  enthusiastically. 
'*  None  in  the  Colony  is  better  qualified  from  actual 
experience." 

"  And  experience  is  what  I  want,"  he  said.  "  You 
would  not  believe  me,  the  other  evening,  that  I 
am  thinking  seriously  of  making  Maryland  my 
home." 

"  Of  course,  not !  "  she  answered. 

"  But  I  am  in  earnest,"  he  insisted. 

She  looked  at  him,  a  moment,  in  silence.  What 
was  the  meaning  of  this  move.  What  could  be  its 
object.  That  he  intended  to  remain,  she  never  for 
a  moment  believed,  but,  why  pretend?  Here  was 
a  problem  too  difficult  for  her  to  solve — she  would 
have  to  tell  Maynadier. 

"  I  ask  you,  however,  not  to  disclose  it,  for  the 
present,"  he  continued.  "  I  want  to  look  around 
a  bit — and  pick  out  a  place,  and — you  understand." 

"  No,  I  do  not  understand,"  she  replied,  implying 
much  more  than  she  conveyed ;  "  but,  if  you  wish, 
I  shall  hold  it  confidential  until  you  release  me — I 
fancy  the  notion  will  not  linger  overlong." 

"  Mademoiselle  still  doubts  ?  "  he  smiled. 

"  Monsieur  still  plays  on  my  credulity." 

"  You  will  see !  " 

"  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  see ! "  she  laughed, 
(meaning  the  end  of  his  masquerade). 

"  What — my  staying  or  my  leaving?  " 

"  Whatever  is  for  the  best,"  she  evaded. 


THE  SURPRISE  127 

"  Rather  enigmatic !  "  he  said.  "  Do  you  mean, 
the  best  for  me,  or  the  best  for  the  Colony?  " 

"  They  should  be  identical — the  best  for  the 
Colony  should  be  the  best  for  you." 

"  In  theory,  possibly,  but  not  always  in  practice. 
The  best  thing  for  me  may  be  to  stay,  but  it  may 
be  the  worst  for  the  Colony." 

"  That  can  be  determined  only  by  trial,"  she  said. 
"  In  the  meantime,  what  do  you  think  it  will  be?  " 

"  Which  brings  us  back  to  the  starting  point !  " 
he  laughed.  "  We  have  rounded  the  circle.  I  think 
it  will  be  that  I  stay." 

"  Then,  I  hope  it  will  prove  pleasant  and  profit 
able." 

"And  you  will  stand  my  friend?"  he  asked. 

"  What  makes  you  think  I  shall  not  ?  "  she  said, 
evasively. 

"  Nothing — I  only  wanted  to  have  your  promise 
safely  filed  away." 

"  I  fancy  every  one  will  be  glad  to  be  your 
friend,  Sir  Edward," — (smiling)  "so  long  as  you 
deserve  it." 

"  So  long  as  I  deserve  it,"  he  repeated,  with  a 
laugh.  "  Do  you  think  the  time  may  come  when 
they  will  deem  it  well  to  give  me  their  backs?  " 

"  Not  at  all !  "  she  replied.  "  I  would  have  said 
the  same  to  any  one — under  similar  circumstances." 

His  eyes  studied  her — he  did  not  miss  the  qualify 
ing  phrase,  but  he  took  it  to  apply  to  him  as  an 
Englishman. 


128  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  If  all  my  Annapolis  acquaintances  are  as  glad 
to  have  me  one  of  them,  as  you  are,"  he  remarked, 
"  my  welcome  will  not  turn  my  head." 

"  Are  you  in  search  of  flattery,  or  do  you  hon 
estly  want  what  I  think?  " 

"  What  you  think ;  by  all  means,  what  you 
think,"  he  said. 

"  Well,  you  have  it — you  cannot  persuade  me, 
that  one  of  Sir  Edward  Parkington's  standing,  in 
London,  can  ever  voluntarily  become  a  Colonist. 
If  he  does,  there  must  be  a  cause — and  a  cause 
means " 

"  What,  mademoiselle?  " 

She  shrugged  her  pretty  shoulders,  "  I  do  not 
know,  monsieur;  but  I  have  a  woman's  intuition, 
and  it  tells  me " 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  tells  you  what?  " 

She  looked  at  him  with  a  quizzical  smile. 

"  That  Sir  Edward  Parkington  will  never  settle 
in  the  Colonies,"  she  replied. 

He  thought  of  the  dead  man,  in  the  grave  by  the 
seashore,  near  St.  Mary's. 

"  Sir  Edward  is  quite  content  with  his  present 
abode,"  he  said,  and  laughed. 

"  Yes,  for  a  time,"  thinking  he  referred  to 
Hedgely  Hall. 

"  For  all  time,  and  eternity,  too." 

"  Am  I  to  take  that  as  compliment  ?  "  she  asked. 

*'  Not  as  a  compliment — as  the  simple  truth," 


THE  SURPRISE  129 

he  answered,  very  seriously, — too  seriously,  indeed, 
for  it  did  not  ring  quite  true,  and  she  detected  it. 

"  I  fear  that  you  equivocate,"  she  cried.  "  You 
mean  something  which  you  do  not  say." 

"  I  protest " 

"  Be  careful,  lest  you  protest  too  much,  Sir 
Edward." 

"  You  are  unjust,"  he  declared — "  what  other 
meaning  could  I  have?  " 

Again  the  shoulders  did  duty.  "I  am  a  poor 
guesser  of  motives — particularly,  when  they  do  not 
concern  me,"  she  answered. 

"  Unkind,  unkind !  "  he  cried — then  they  both 
laughed. 

"  Let  us  go  in  to  breakfast,"  she  said. 

They  were  turning  away,  when  the  clatter  of  a 
galloping  horse,  attracted  them,  and  up  the  avenue, 
at  full  speed,  came  Henry  Marbury. 

"  Why,  it  is  father !  "  she  exclaimed — "  what  can 
be  the  matter?  he  is  waving  to  us — what  does  he 
mean?  " 

"  Stay  here,  I  will  meet  him,"  said  Parkington, 
and  hurried  down  the  steps. 

At  the  same  time,  a  negro  groom  ran  out  from 
the  stables,  and  stood  ready  to  take  the  horse. 

"  Go  in !  Go  in !  Close  the  house !  "  Marbury 
cried — "  close  the  house,  quick ! — quick !  " 

"  What?  "  shouted  Parkington,  the  pounding  of 
the  hoofs  drowning  the  words.     "  What  do  you 
say?" 
9 


130  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  Close  the  house !  quick ! — quick !  " 

"  Close  the  house !  quick !  "  Parkington  repeated 
to  Judith. 

A  moment  later,  Marbury  dashed  up,  flung  the 
reins  from  him,  and  leaped  down. 

"  Pirates !  "  he  shouted.  "  Pirates ! — they  are 
coming !  "  pointing  behind  him — where,  five  hundred 
yards  away,  and  barely  distinguishable  among  the 
trees,  a  crowd  of  men  were  approaching  on  the  run. 

"  Pirates ! "  said  Parkington,  incredulously. 
"  Surely  not !  " 

"  Then,  stay  and  welcome  them,  if  you  think  so," 
called  Marbury,  rushing  up  the  steps. 

Parkington  stayed  long  enough  to  get  another 
view  of  the  nearing  men,  then  followed  him. 

Within,  he  found  both  order  and  confusion.  The 
guests  were  just  about  to  assemble  for  breakfast — 
some  were  down  stairs,  some  about  to  come  down, 
others  just  finishing  their  toilet.  Marbury  was 
standing  in  the  hall  giving  orders  to  the  blacks, 
who  were  frightened  but  still  retained  sufficient 
sense  to  do  as  they  were  told.  Mr.  Paca,  Captain 
Herford,  and  the  other  men  were  closing  the  shut 
ters  on  the  lower  floor,  the  women  those  on  the  floor 
above.  Already  the  pirates  had  sent  a  detachment 
around  to  the  rear  of  the  house,  keeping  under  cover 
of  the  stables,  and  escape  for  the  women,  by  horse 
back,  was  cut  off.  George  Marbury  had  managed 
to  send  a  servant  off,  an  instant  before,  however, 
to  apprise  the  nearest  plantations  of  their  plight — 


THE  SURPRISE  131 

and  begging  that  they  muster  all  the  assistance  in 
their  power  and  hasten  to  the  rescue. 

Parkington  looked  on,  for  an  instant,  then,  see 
ing  Constable  come  from  the  library  with  a  gun,  he 
hastened  in,  took  one  from  the  rack,  and  returned 
to  the  front  of  the  house.  Old  Marbury  was  stand 
ing  in  the  doorway.  The  main  body  of  the  free 
booters  had  halted  a  hundred  yards  away,  while  the 
leaders  were  taking  council  and  observing  the  place. 
There  could  be  no  doubt,  even  at  that  distance, 
what  they  were — their  variegated  costumes  and 
strange  headgear  proclaimed  the  riffraff  of  all 
lands.  Cutlasses,  daggers,  swords,  and  pistols,  were 
their  weapons — none  of  them  appeared  to  have  a 
gun ;  they  were  wont  to  come  quickly  to  close 
quarters,  and,  then,  to  show  no  mercy. 

"  Are  pirates  plentiful  along  this  coast,  Mr. 
Marbury  ?  "  inquired  Sir  Edward. 

"  Plentiful !  I've  never  heard  of  a  pirate  on  the 
inner  Chesapeake." 

"  Well,  they  appear  to  be  there,  now !  "  Parking- 
ton  laughed. 

Marbury  stared  at  him,  "  Man  alive !  "  he  said. 
"  You  don't  seem  to  appreciate  your  danger." 

"  My  danger  is  nothing,"  remarked  Parkington, 
measuring  the  powder  and  ramming  home  the 
charge.  "  We  men  can  only  die ;  but  the  women  ! — 
God !  I  have  seen  one  pirate  crew  at  work,  I  want 
never  to  see  another." 

"  They  may  not  know  the  peril,"  said  Marbury. 


THE  IMPOSTOR 


"  Promise  me,  Sir  Edward,  that,  if  the  worst  come, 
you  will  not  let  my  daughter  fall  alive  into  their 
hands." 

"  I  promise,"  Parkington  answered.  "  Neither 
her  nor  any  other,  so  long  as  I  can  wield  a  dagger." 

The  old  man  nodded.  "  Thank  you,"  he  said. 
Then  :  —  "  We  have  an  abundance  of  rifles  and 
ammunition,  the  house  cannot  be  set  on  fire,  save 
at  the  doors  —  and  they  can  be  defended  —  and  the 
roof.  We  should  hold  out  until  help  arrives." 
He  turned  and  raised  his  voice  :  "  Let  every  man  to 
a  window,  and  defend  it  with  his  life.  We  can 
expect  no  mercy,  therefore  show  none." 

Parkington  took  a  window  on  the  front,  Con 
stable  the  one  beside  him,  Plater  and  Snowden  simi 
lar  ones  across  the  hall,  George  and  the  others, 
were  at  the  rear.  The  women  were  gathered  in 
the  drawing-room.  They  were  very  quiet  —  though, 
occasionally,  a  sob,  half  suppressed,  gave  evidence 
of  the  strain.  Five  minutes  before  they  had  only 
the  breakfast  in  mind  —  now,  death  had  replaced 
breakfast. 

Marbury  stood  at  the  open  door,  waiting.  There 
was  a  chance,  the  demands  would  be  such  that  he 
could  grant.  All  the  cash  and  silver,  in  the  house, 
he  would  gladly  give  them,  if  they  would  take  it 
and  go. 

The  leaders  of  the  pirates  still  held  council  to 
gether.  They  could  rate  the  possible  strength  of  a 
ship,  whether  it  was  a  likely  prey,  and  what,  if  any, 


THE  SURPRISE  133 

was  its  armament,  and  the  number  of  its  crew,  but 
here  was  a  new  proposition:  A  house,  with  every 
window  closed,  and  a  man  in  the  open  doorway — 
a  rifle  in  his  hand. 

"  What  do  you  make  of  it,  Captain,"  said  his  sec 
ond  in  command,  a  tall,  red-bearded,  heavy  featured 
man,  in  a  red  silk  shirt  and  breeches,  and  tall  jack 
boots.  He  wore  no  head  dress,  other  than  his  flam 
ing  hair.  "  It  may  be  easy,  and  then  again  it  may 
not." 

"  Ah !  damn  !  You're  a  white-livered  rogue !  " 
exclaimed  the  one  on  the  Captain's  left,  a  very 
stout  fellow,  with  a  patch  over  one  eye,  and  a  bright 
red  scar  from  chin  to  temple.  "  You're  always  for 
being  careful — no  wonder  you've  got  the  name  of 
Coward — you " 

"  Shut  up  !  " — said  the  other — "  We  won't  quar 
rel  before  strangers,  but  I  tell  you  that  you're  a 
dirty  dog,  One  Eye. — Put  back  your  sword,  or  I'll 
break  every  bone  in  your  damn  body ! " 

"  Gentlemen  !  Gentlemen  !  I  beg  of  you  restrain 
yourselves !  "  said  the  Captain.  "  Remember,  there 
is  work  before  us.  Afterward,  we  shall  be  glad  to 
see  you  fight  it  out — though  I  question,  not  at  all, 
that  One  Eye  will  lose  as  usual." 

He  drew  out  his  snuff-box  and,  with  all  the  air 
of  a  Court  dandy,  took  a  pinch  of  its  contents, 
dusted  the  traces  from  his  shoulder,  with  a  fine 
white  handkerchief,  and  replaced  the  box.  He  was 
a  small  man,  his  dress  was  black  velvet,  and  there 


THE  IMPOSTOR 

was  nothing  about  him  to  distinguish  him  from  a 
peaceful  gentleman,  save  that  his  rapier  was  of 
somewhat  unusual  length,  and  hung  a  little  for 
ward,  and  ready  to  his  hand. 

"  I  am  a  bit  perturbed,  over  what  course  to  pur 
sue,"  he  continued.  "  We  can  board  a  ship,  easy 
enough,  but  it  is  not  quite  the  same  with  a  house. 
The  general  aspect  of  the  surrounding  premises 
suggests  that  there  is  a  goodly  company  concealed 
within,  and,  we  can  assume,  prepared  to  defend  to 
the  uttermost."  He  paused,  took  a  fresh  pinch  of 
snuff,  the  handkerchief  was  flourished  again,  and 
the  box  replaced.  "  I  like  to  know  something  of 
the  milk  that  is  in  the  cocoanut  before  I  crack  it, 
but,  I  reckon,  I  shall  have  to  take  this  one  wholly 
on  faith.  I  thought  to  surprise  them,  but  that 
fellow  on  horseback  upset  my  plans — for  which  he 
shall  be  turned  over  to  your  tender  mercies,  One 
Eye,  if  we  take  him  alive." 

"  I'd  sooner  have  my  pick  of  the  women,  if  there 
be  any,"  was  the  surly  answer. 

"  If  any  woman  wants  you,  she  may  take  you," 
said  the  Captain,  gently.  "  Otherwise,  you  know 
the  rules." 

Whereat,  the  Coward  laughed  mockingly  and 
twirled  his  moustache,  while  One  Eye  cursed  him 
under  his  breath. 

'*  Well,  are  we  going  to  rest  here  all  day  ?  "  he 
exclaimed.  "  If  we  are  not  to  attack,  let  us  back 
to  the  brig.  We  would  be  in  nice  case  if  some  one 


THE  SURPRISE  135 

captured  her,  while  we're  nosing  around  ashore — 
this  is  a  crazy  expedition,  anyway,  so  far  from,  the 
ship." 

"  The  only  thing  you  are  fit  for,"  said  the  Cap 
tain,  "  is  to  stir  up  trouble.  We've  never  over 
hauled  a  prize,  but  it  ought  to  have  had  more 
treasure  or  more  girls  aboard.  It  is  an  awful 
affliction,  One  Eye,  to  have  it  so  in  the  blood.  But 
there  is  some  truth  in  what  you  say — we  are  a  half 
mile  from  the  brig  and  it  is  dangerous.  Suppose 
you  bear  our  terms  to  the  man  at  the  dloor, 
yonder." 

"  Not  I,  Captain !  I'm  ready  to  take  my  chances 
with  the  rest,  but  excuse  me  from  walking  up,  alone, 
to  be  shot." 

The  other  surveyed  him  with  an  amiable  smile. 
"  Afraid,  are  you " 

"  No,  I'm  not  afraid,"  said  One  Eye,  laying  hand 
on  his  sword.  "  But  I " 

"Then  you  will  go?" 

"  No — I  won't  go." 

"  And  you?  "  to  the  Coward. 

"  Sure,  Captain,  I'll  go. — What  are  the  terms?  " 
was  the  prompt  response.  "  I'm  not  afraid." 

"  Tut !  tut !  "  said  the  Captain,  stepping  between 
them.  "  What  did  I  tell  you  about  squabbling.  I 
only  wanted  to  try  the  temper  of  you  both.  I  will 
go  myself.  Await  me  here,"  and  he  walked  briskly 
toward  the  house. 


136  THE  IMPOSTOR 

Marbury  saw  him  coming,  and  went  down  to 
meet  him. 

"  Monsieur ! "  greeted  the  pirate,  and  bowed,  his 
hat  across  his  heart. 

Marbury's  only  response  was  a  curt  inclination 
of  the  head. 

"  We  have  called,  this  morning,  monsieur,"  the 
pirate  remarked,  "  to  collect  his  Majesty's  taxes, 
if  it  will  occasion  you  no  particular  inconvenience." 

"  By  '  his  Majesty,'  I  presume  you  mean  the 
Devil,"  said  Marbury. 

"  Precisely,  monsieur.  Your  mind  is  very  quick 
— it  is  a  great  pleasure  to  deal  with  one  so  exceed 
ingly  discerning." 

Marbury  gave  a  shrug  of  deprecation. 

"  What  is  the  amount  of  the  taxes  ?  "  he  askoL 

"  It  rests  with  you,  monsieur — how  much  can  you 
pay  for  his  Majesty's  favor?  " 

"  How  am  I  to  know  that  it  will  buy  his  favor?  " 
said  Marbury. 

**  You  will  have  to  take  my  word  for  it,  mon 
sieur." 

Marbury  smiled.     "  The  word  of  a  pirate  ?  " 

"  Is  doubtful  security,  you  mean  ?  I  grant  it, 
monsieur,  but  it  is  the  best  I  can  give  you — you 
may  take  it  or  not,  as  you  see  fit.  However,  let  me 
point  out,  that,  by  taking  it,  you  stand  to  lose 
certain  possessions  but  save  your  lives  and  the 
house;  by  not  taking  it,  you  will  lose  your  lives 
and  property  as  well.  Voila!  " 


THE  SURPRISE  137 

"  Not  exactly,"  said  Marbury.  "  I  may  be  will 
ing  to  pay  a  reasonable  amount  to  avoid  a  nasty 
fight,  but,  that  is  all.  If  we  fight,  we  are  reason 
ably  sure  of  saving  -our  lives  and  the  cash,  and  of 
sending  a  goodly  number  of  your  pirate  crew  to 
hell — yourself  among  them." 

"  There  may  be  some  casualties,"  was  the  answer, 
"  but  they  will  not  be  confined  to  one  side,  mon 
sieur." 

"  Possibly  not,  sir,  but  we  fight  under  cover  of 
the  house,  you  in  the  open.  You  have  doubtless 
observed  that  there  are  holes  in  the  shutters — air 
holes,  they  are,  but  quite  as  serviceable  for  guns. 
But,  what  you  do  not  know  is,  that  behind  every 
window,  both  front  and  rear,  stands  a  man,  with 
rifles  and  ammunition — and  a  slave  to  serve  him — 
you  can  judge,  better  than  I,  what  will  be  the  result 
to  an  attacking  party." 

"  You  have  a  large  household,  monsieur !  "  said 
the  Captain,  laughing  incredulously. 

"  At  present,  yes,  to  my  good  fortune.  A  party 
of  gentlemen,  engaged  in  hunting  the  fox,  arrived 
late  last  evening  and  remained  the  night.  With 
us,  sir,  you  must  know,  a  fox  chase  may  last  a  week, 
the  horsemen  putting  up  wherever  night  overtakes 
them." — ("  That  keeps  the  women  out,  thank 
God!"  he  thought.) 

The  Captain  played  with  his  rapier  hilt,  and  con 
sidered.  What  bothered  him  was  the  celerity  with 
which  the  shutters  had  been  closed — he  had  seen 


138  THE  IMPOSTOR 

them  swing  shut  almost  simultaneously,  as  they 
approached.  If  this  man  spoke  truthfully,  then 
there  was  grave  doubt  of  success — and,  even  if  suc 
cessful,  a  sorry  depletion  of  his  men,  before  he 
attained  it.  He  had  slipped  into  the  Chesapeake  to 
raid  among  the  plantations  close  to  the  water,  with 
the  chance  of  picking  up  a  fat  merchantman  or 
two,  going  to  convoy  off  the  Capes.  This  was 
the  first  attempt — brought  about  by  information, 
from  one  of  the  men  who  knew  something  of  the 
country,  that  Hedgely  Hall  was  particularly  good 
picking.  He  had  not  anticipated  more  than  a  mo 
mentary  resistance — now,  he  was  not  so  sure;  it 
might  take  hours,  and,  in  the  meantime,  his  ship 
was  lying  in  the  river,  with  but  two  hands  aboard. 
And  a  pirate  without  a  ship  is  not  long  a  pirate ! 

"  Monsieur,  it  is  this  way,"  said  he.  "  I  must 
weigh  anchor  and  away — we  have  spent  overlong 
here,  as  it  is.  I  will  trust  you " 

Marbury  bowed  in  affected  gratitude. 

"  If  you  will  trust  me,"  the  Captain  went  on, 
and  bowed  back  at  him.  "  How  much  specie  have 
you  in  the  house?  " 

"  Twelve  hundred  pounds,"  Marbury  answered 
promptly. 

"  It  is  not  enough — I  must  have  two  thousand." 

"  You  ask  what  is  physically  impossible — I  have 
no  more." 

"  You  have  your  ancestral  silver,  and  the  women's 
jewels." 


THE  SURPRISE  139 

"  The  ladies  are  in  Annapolis,"  said  Marbury, 
readily,  "  and  I  possess  no  ancestral  silver ;  I  am  a 
new  man  in  Maryland.  What  little  of  my  own 
there  is  shall  be  included." 

The  pirate  regarded  him  in  stern  silence  for  a 
moment — then  he  suddenly  swung  forward  his 
sword  hilt. 

"  Will  you  swear,  on  the  Cross,  to  the  truth  of 
what  you  have  said?  "  he  inquired. 

"  Certainly,  sir,  I  will  swear,  if  you  wish  it," 
said  Marbury,  raising  his  hand.  "  But  I  warn  you, 
that  the  Cross  is  no  more  sacred  to  me  than,  I 
fancy,  it  is  to  you." 

The  sword  sank  back  into  its  place,  and  the  pirate 
chief  laughed  softly. 

"  And  I  would  have  known  you  lied,  had  you 
sworn,"  he  said.  "  So  be  it.  Pay  over  the  twelve 
hundred  pounds  and  the  silver,  and  I,  on  my  part, 
promise  to  depart  straightway,  and  to  leave  you  in 
peace,  hereafter." 

"  You,  and  all  your  crew  ?  "  questioned  Marbury. 

"  Oh,  certainly — I  and  all  my  crew." 

"  But  what  assurance  have  I,  that,  when  the 
money  is  paid  over  to  you,  you  will  withdraw?  " 
said  Marbury  cautiously. 

"  My  friend,  as  I  have  already  said,  you  will  have 
to  trust  my  faith.  If  I  capture  the  house,  I  should 
take  the  gold,  anyway,  so  you  lose  nothing,  in  the 
end,  and  may  gain  much.  Come,  monsieur,  to 
business,  either  of  gold  or  blood — which  shall  it  be  ? 


140  THE  IMPOSTOR 

Long-Sword  makes  few  compacts — those  compacts 
he  keeps." 

"  Long-Sword !  "  exclaimed  Marbury,  in  amaze 
ment. 

"  The  same,  monsieur,  perchance  you  have  heard 
of  me." 

"  Who  has  not  heard  of  you " 

"  As  a  bloody  and  cruel  scoundrel,"  Long-Sword 
completed.  "  Such  is  not  always  true,  as  you  now 
can  evidence.  But,  we  dally,  monsieur — are  we  to 
have  the  gold  or  are  we  not?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Marbury ;  "  I  will  have  it  brought 
here  with  the  silver,  at  once." 


THE    DEFEAT 

WITHIN  the  house,  while  the  negotiations  were  in 
progress,  there  had  been  the  trembling  fear  of  the 
women,  and  the  grave  concern  of  the  men.  Mar- 
bury  had  told  no  one  what  he  proposed  to  do,  but, 
as  the  one  controlling  consideration  was  for  the 
women,  none  cared  so  long  as  they  were  saved. 

"  This  pirate  appears  to  be  a  well-mannered 
rogue,"  Constable  remarked,  peering  through  the 
hole  in  his  shutter,  "  with  all  the  airs  of  a  gentle 
man,  even  to  taking  snuff  in  the  most  approved 
fashion.  I  cannot,  however,  say  as  much  for  his 
two  followers — they  are  the  scum  of  the  docks." 

"  You  put  it  mildly,"  said  Parkington ;  "  I  should 
have  said  the  scum  of  hell,  even  at  long  distance." 

"  I  accept  your  modification,  and  may  we  never 
see  them  any  closer." 

"  Amen,  with  all  my  heart !  " 

There  was  silence  for  a  while,  then  Constable 
spoke  again. 

"  They  seem  to  be  having  a  most  amiable  con 
versation,"  he  observed.  "  Marbury  will  be  bring 
ing  him  in  to  breakfast,  presently !  .  .  .  .  Look  at 
the  pirate,  Parkington,  he  acts  like  a  gentleman, 
he  dresses  like  a  gentleman,  damn  it !  he  must  have 
been  a  gentleman,  once !  " 

141 


142  THE  IMPOSTOR 

No  answer  from  Sir  Edward. 

"  Such  a  bowing,  back  and  forth. — Lord !  you 
would  think  they  were  dancing  the  minuet !  " 

No  answer. 

"  And  such  a  sword !  It  sticks  out  a  foot  farther 
behind  his  coat  than  is  the  fashion." 

No  answer. 

"  I  say,  Parkington,  are  you  deaf  or  asleep?  " 

"  I  beg  your  pardon — what  did  you  say — am  I 
deaf  or  asleep?  Neither,  I  trust." 

"  I  have  made  three  separate  remarks  to  you, 
hence  my  inquiry." 

"  Repeat,"  said  Parkington,  over  his  shoulder, 
his  eyes  on  the  scene  outside ;  "  I  am  all  attention." 

"  The  last  was  as  to  the  extraordinary  length  of 
the  pirate's  sword." 

"  Yes — I  think  this  must  be  he,"  replied  Park 
ington. 

"  What?  "  said  Constable.  "  Must  be  he — what 
the  devil  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  I  heard  tales,  in  London,  recently,  of  a  famous 
buccaneer  of  these  seas  named  Long-Sword,"  ex 
plained  Parkington.  "  I  think " 

"  Great  God !  it  is  he,  or  I'm  a  sailor !  "  exclaimed 
Constable.  "  Do  not  let  the  women  know." 

Sir  Edward  smiled.  "  No !  no ! — As  to  that, 
however,  a  pirate  is  a  pirate,  the  world  over — there 
is  little  to  choose  between  them." 

"  But  Long-Sword  has  nothing  in  his  favor — 
he  is  the  cruelest,  most  rapacious  pirate  afloat." 


THE  DEFEAT 

"Or  ashore,"  Parkington  amended.  "Ah!  the 
council  has  ended — the  pirate  waits.  Marbury  has 
been  successful." 

When  Marbury  entered,  the  women  crowded 
around  him,  but  the  men  remained  at  their  post, 
taking  no  chances. 

"  There  will  be  no  fight. — Silence !  would  you 
spoil  everything? "  he  demanded.  "  They  must 
not  know  there  are  women  here."  Instantly  the 
glad  cries  were  hushed.  "  My  womenfolk  are  in 
Annapolis,"  he  went  on.  "  The  pirate  chief  has 
consented  to  retire.  Judith,  will  you  gather  to 
gether  all  our  silver — not  the  Hedgely  silver,  just 
our  own — and  tie  it  up  in  a  sheet,  or  two  sheets,  if 
necessary." 

"  Surely,  Mr.  Marbury,  this  is  not  the  entire 
ransom  ?  "  said  Mrs.  Plater. 

"  A  little  matter  of  a  few  gold  pieces — no,  not 
a  pistole  from  my  guests,  nradame — I  have  the 
necessary  cash." 

"  We  will  reimburse  you " 

He  shook  his  head. 

"  Why  should  you  pay  for  us  ?  "  she  demanded, 
as  Marbury  detached  himself  from  the  group  and 
made  for  the  stairs. 

"  Because  it  is  my  pleasure,"  he  said,  and  hurried 
away  to  his  room. 

When  he  returned,  with  two  bags  in  which  were 
the  twelve  hundred  sovereigns,  the  silver  was  in 
a  pile  on  the  floor  of  the  dining-room.  Platters  and 


144  THE  IMPOSTOR 

candelabra,  spoons  and  trays  had  been  thrown  into 
an  indiscriminate  heap,  and  bound  up  in  a  great 
table-cloth. 

"  Sam — here !  "  he  said  to  a  negro  servant,  and 
pointed  to  the  silver.  "  Carry  it  behind  me." 

Sam's  teeth  were  chattering,  and  his  face  took 
on  the  peculiar  shade  which  goes  with  the  negro's 
fear,  but  discipline  prevailed,  and  he  took  up  the 
bundle  and  followed  his  master,  though  quaking  in 
every  muscle. 

Long-Sword  was  pacing  slowly  back  and  forth, 
his  hands  behind  his  back,  his  head  upon  his  breast. 
As  Marbury  approached,  he  looked  up  and  smiled 
pleasantly. 

"  It  is  a  queer  trade,  monsieur,  this  of  a  pirate," 
he  said.  "  Always  over  a  volcano — never  knowing 
peace  and  quiet — every  man's  hand  against  you, 
and  yours  against  every  man.  You  may  not  believe 
me,  but  I  like  it  not." 

"  Then  why  do  you  follow  it?  "  asked  Marbury, 
handing  over  the  gold,  and  motioning  for  the  slave 
to  put  down  the  silver. 

"  Force  of  circumstances,  drove  me  to  it,"  count 
ing  the  sovereigns. 

"  Which  is  the  same  thing  as  natural  inclination," 
Marbury  replied. 

"  You  mean,  that  circumstances  force  one  only 
where  one  wants  to  go  ?  " 

"  Exactly !  " 

"  And  therefore  that  I  am  a  pirate  from  choice?  " 


"  IT  IS  A  QUEER  TRADE,  MONSIEUR,  THIS  OF  A  PIRATE,"   HE  SAID. 


THE  DEFEAT  146 

"Certainly!" 

"  Are  you  paying  me  this  gold  from  choice,  or 
from  force  of  circumstances?  " 

"  I,  most  assuredly,  am  not  paying  from  choice." 

"  Neither  am  I  a  pirate  from  choice,  monsieur. 
But,  being  one,  I  believe  in  being  a  good  one." 

"  Which  means,  that  you  are  a  particularly  bad 
one." 

Long-Sword  laughed.  "  You  have  no  evidence 
of  it,  monsieur.  Surely,  I  was  not  rapacious  in  my 
terms  to  you! — There  are  four  sovereigns  too 
many " 

"  I  know,"  said  Marbury.  "  I  gave  you  all  the 
gold  I  had." 

The  pirate  gravely  returned  them. 

"  It  was  to  be  twelve  hundred,  no  more.  This  is 
the  silver  ?  "  pointing  to  the  bundle  in  white.  "  Very 
good — my  men  shall  be  immediately  withdrawn. 
Monsieur,  I  have  the  honor  to  salute  you,  and  to 
bid  you  farewell,"  and  he  bared  his  head  and  bowed 
low. 

Then  he  put  his  fingers  to  his  lips  and  whistled 
shrilly.  Instantly,  those  of  his  crew  in  the  rear 
of  the  house,  marched  down  and  joined  the  main 
body.  A  motion  brought  his  two  lieutenants  for 
ward — he  gave  one  the  gold,  the  other  the  silver, 
and  they  started  toward  their  ship.  He,  himself, 
paused  a  moment  to  pluck  a  rose  and  admire  it,  be 
fore  fastening  it  in  his  coat;  then  he  turned,  and, 
10 


146  THE  IMPOSTOR 

again  gravely  saluting  Marbury,  who  had  retired  to 
the  doorway,  followed  after  his  men. 

"  May  the  devil  take  you !  "  Marbury  muttered. 

"  And  may  he  take  him  soon ! "  said  Constable 
from  his  window.  "  Shall  we  call  off  the  de 
fenders?  " 

"  Yes — I  think  so ;  but,  to  make  sure,  I  will 
slip  down  and  see  them  sail  away.  Keep  a  sharp 
lookout  until  I  return.  In  the  meantime,  let  all 
the  horses  be  saddled  and  brought  around — the 
women  can  escape,  then,  if  necessary." 

"  Let  me  go  with  you,"  said  Parkington. 

They  had  gone  but  a  short  distance,  when  there 
came,  from  the  direction  of  the  river,  a  faint  yell, 
followed  by  another  and  another,  and  yet  another. 

"  Now,  what  is  the  matter  ?  "  said  Parkington 
pausing.  "  Are  they  coming  back  ?  " 

"  God  knows  !  "  exclaimed  Marbury,  pausing  also. 

"  And  as  He  will  not  tell,"  remarked  Parkington, 
after  a  wait,  during  which  no  further  sounds  came, 
"  we  shall  have  to  find  out  for  ourselves." 

Under  cover  of  the  trees  and  bushes,  which  lined 
the  driveway,  they  gained,  at  length,  sight  of  the 
landing.  Then,  the  reason  for  the  cries  was  evi 
dent: — the  pirates  had  lost  their  ship. 

It  was  anchored  farther  down  stream  than  they 
had  left  it,  and  beside  it  lay  another  vessel,  which 
Marbury  recognized  as  one  of  his  own  ships,  The 
Whip,  overdue  from  London.  Not  a  man  was 
visible  on  either,  and,  except  for  the  Royal 


THE  DEFEAT  147 

George  idly  flapping  in  the  morning  breeze,  there 
appeared  to  be  absolute  quiet  aboard — save  only 
that  the  two  rogues,  who  had  been  left  in  charge, 
were  swinging  by  their  necks  from  the  yard-arm. 

The  pirates  were  gathered  in  animated  discussion 
— their  first  rage  had  quieted  into  sullenness.  Their 
four  boats  still  lay  at  the  landing — quite  sufficient 
to  get  them  back  to  the  ship  in  detachments,  but 
scarcely  enough  for  an  attacking  party.  Long- 
Sword  was  standing  apart  from  the  others,  trying 
to  make  out  what  force  was  against  them.  Mani 
festly,  if  he  wanted  to  regain  his  ship,  the  thing 
was  to  go  and  take  it — and,  at  length,  he  gave  the 
order  to  attack.  How  admirable  his  discipline,  was 
shown  by  their  waiting  for  the  word. 

One  by  one,  he  designated  the  men  who  should 
go,  calling  them  by  name,  until  the  boats  could  hold 
no  more.  Then  he  stepped  aboard  the  nearest,  and 
took  the  tiller. 

"  Give  way ! "  he  ordered — "  and  keep  well 
apart." 

It  was  the  signal  to  the  ships,  also.  Instantly, 
they  came  to  life — and  the  two  Long-Toms  of  the 
pirate,  and  the  one  on  The  Whip,  were  trained  on 
the  boats.  The  buccaneers  set  up  a  shout,  and 
bent  to  their  oars.  The  more  uncertain  the  target, 
the  more  chance  there  was  for  a  miss.  A  quarter 
the  distance  was  covered  ....  half  the  distance. 


148  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  Please  God,  they  do  not  fail ! "  said  Marbury, 
breathlessly. 

"  Why  don't  they  shoot ! "  cried  Parkington. 
"Why  don't " 

Crash !  the  one  Long-Tom  spoke. 

"  Hit !  "  shouted  Marbury.     "  Hit !  " 

Crash !  went  the  other  Long-Tom. 

"  Two ! "  cried  Parkington,  as  the  boat  disap 
peared  in  a  cloud  of  water. 

Crash,  went  The  Whip's  gun. 

"  Three !  "  cried  both  together. 

The  river  was  filled  with  the  debris — with  dead 
and  dying  pirates.  Of  the  three  boat  loads,  not 
half  a  dozen  were  sufficiently  uninjured  to  be  dan 
gerous — and  they  were  in  deep  water,  with  all  they 
could  do  to  care  for  themselves. 

One  boat  remained — Long-Sword's  boat.  The 
ships  could  not  reload  the  guns  in  time  to  reach  it — 
they  must  sink  it  when  it  swung  alongside,  or  meet 
the  crew  as  they  came  up  the  ropes. 

It  was  close  distance,  now.  Long-Sword,  trans 
ferring  the  tiller  to  his  left  hand,  drew  his  pistol  and 
fired  quickly.  A  sailor  threw  up  his  arms  and  fell. 
He  seized  a  fresh  pistol,  from  the  man  nearest,  and 
fired  a  second  time,  knocking  the  cutlass  from 
another's  hand.  Again,  he  cut  the  bulwark  at 
another's  head.  Then  the  rail  hid  them.  The  next 
moment,  they  shot  in  alongside. 

Before  they  could  seize  the  ropes,  however, 
a  man  reared  himself  upright,  just  above  them, 


THE  DEFEAT  149 

bearing  in  his  arms  a  huge  water  cask,  and  flung 
it  down  into  the  boat. — And  the  boat  disappeared, 
as  if  by  magic,  leaving  its  cargo  of  wounded  and 
uninjured  struggling  in  the  water. 

"  Bravo !  Jamison !  bravo ! "  exclaimed  Marbury. 
"  You  get  a  quarter's  salary  for  that  throw. 
Marry,  how  they  struggle !  " 

"  Look  at  Long-Sword ! "  said  Parkington. 
"  See,  he  is  up  the  rope,  hand  over  hand !  .  .  .  . 
he  makes  the  rail !  ....  he  is  aboard !  .  .  .  .  his 
rapier  is  out !  ....  he  spits  one !  ....  he  spits 
another !  .  .  .  .  My  God !  did  you  see  it !  struck 
from  behind ! — he  is  down !  he  is  down !  " 

The  fall  of  their  leader  ended  the  fight.  The 
Coward  and  One-Eye  had  gone  down  with  the  boats 
— the  former  with  his  neck  broken,  the  latter  with 
his  legs  shot  away.  There  was  none  to  lead  the 
few  that  had  remained  on  shore,  or  who  managed 
to  save  themselves  from  the  river.  Their  one 
thought,  now,  was  flight. — But  where  to  flee ! 

Boom! 

A  ball  from  one  of  the  vessels  scattered  the  water 
at  their  very  feet.  They  cut  and  ran  for  cover, 
leaving  the  wounded  to  follow,  as  best  they  might. 

And  Marbury  and  Parkington,  brought  to  a 
sudden  realization  of  their  own  danger,  turned  and 
made  for  the  house,  at  full  speed. 

"  Where  are  the  women  ?  "  was  Marbury's  first 
question,  as  they  dashed  in. 


150  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  Gone ! — they  are  safe  at  Maynadier's,  by  this 
time,"  said  Constable. 

"  Good ! — we  may  have  to  fight  for  it." 

"  What  has  happened?  "  asked  Herford. 

"  Enough !  "  answered  Parkington. — "  The 
pirate  ship  was  captured  while  undefended,  by  one 
of  Mr.  Marbury's  schooners,  which  had  just  oome 
in.  They  tried  to  regain,  it — their  boats  were 
sunk — almost  all  on  board  were  killed — their  leader 
is  dead  or  a  prisoner — the  rest  are  bound,  this  way, 
seeking  to  escape. — Here  they  oome !  Now  for  it." 

The  pirates  were  marching  rapidly  up  the  drive 
— about  fifty  of  them.  They  seemed  to  have  de 
cided,  already,  what  and  how,  for,  at  about  two 
hundred  yards,  they  separated  into  three  detach 
ments.  One  of  these  remained  in  front,  another,  of 
an  equal  number,  passed  around  to  the  right,  and 
the  third,  containing  the  remainder,  made  for  the 
left  of  the  house  and  the  rear. 

"  They  are  going  to  rush  us  on  all  four  sides  at 
the  same  time,"  said  Marbury.  "  Be  ready !  " 

There  was  not  long  to  wait.  The  moment  the 
rear  detachment  was  in  place,  a  shrill  whistle  rang 
out,  and,  with  an  exultant  yell,  the  pirates  flung 
themselves  forward. 

They  were  met  by  a  fusillade  from  the  windows, 
that  thinned  their  ranks,  somewhat,  but  did  not 
stop  the  onslaught.  Before  the  defenders  could 
change  guns,  they  were  close  against  the  house, 
and,  s>o,  safe  for  the  time.  But  it  gave  them  no 


THE  DEFEAT  151 

entrance — they  were  practically  as  far  from  the 
inside  as  ever. 

A  wounded  pirate,  out  in  front,  waved  his  hand 
feebly  and  called  to  his  fellows  for  aid;  another 
struggled  to  his  feet,  staggered  a  few  steps  and 
plunged  down  in  a  heap ;  one  crawled  on  hands  and 
knees  to  the  shade  of  a  nearby  tree,  propped  him 
self  against  it,  and  there  died,  cursing  God,  man 
and  the  devil;  others  lay  where  they  had  fallen, 
their  buccaneering  over.  The  Jolly  Roger  would 
fly  no  more  for  them. 

But  their  comrades  heeded  them  not.  They 
were  of  no  value,  further,  could  bear  no  part  in  the 
strife.  They  were  as  useless  impedimenta  as  the 
dead,  so  they  left  them  to  die. 

Suddenly,  a  chopping  noise  began  immediately 
under  the  front  of  the  house.  Marbury  listened  an 
instant,  then  sprang  for  the  stairs. 

"  The  cellar  windows !  "  he  shouted.  "  A  man 
from  each  room  follow  me." 

These  windows,  of  which  there  were  four,  two  in 
front  and  two  in  rear,  were  protected  by  iron  bars 
set  into  the  stone  foundation,  and  scarcely  three 
inches  apart.  No  one  could  squeeze  through,  unless 
two  of  them  were  ripped  out.  And  that  was  what 
the  pirates  were  trying  to  do,  protected  by  their 
proximity  to  the  house,  and  finding  that  the  windows 
were  not  defended. 

But  the  bars  were  staunch,  and,  when  Marbury 
gained  the  cellar,  they  had  not  been  sprung.  He 


152  THE  IMPOSTOR 

threw  up  his  pistol,  and  one  of  the  assailants  went 
down.  The  others  instantly  drew  back  out  of  sight. 

"  Ha !  ha !  "  laughed  Parkington ;  "  what  is  the 
next  move?  " 

A  crash  of  glass  answered  him  from  the  other 
cellar;  the  next  moment,  four  pirates  were  in  and 
upon  them.  Parkington  drew  his  blade  and  took 
the  first  one,  Constable  the  second,  and  Herford 
the  third;  the  fourth  made  for  Marbury,  who  was 
without  his  sword,  and  with  nothing  but  an  empty 
pistol  to  defend  himself. 

With  a  shout,  the  pirate  leaped  upon  him,  to  be 
met  by  the  empty  weapon,  hurled  in  his  face  with 
all  the  strength  Marbury  possessed.  The  man  flung 
up  an  arm  and  broke  the  blow,  somewhat,  but  it 
still  struck  him  hard  enough  to  cover  his  face  with 
blood,  and  to  send  him  staggering  back  against  the 
wall.  Before  he  had  recovered,  Marbury  sprang 
across  the  cellar,  and,  seizing  an  axe  from  the 
corner,  returned  to  the  attack. 

The  pirate  dashed  the  blood  away  and  met  him 
with  a  sweeping  blow  of  his  cutlass.  Marbury 
caught  it  on  the  handle  of  the  axe  and  turned  it 
aside.  Again  the  cutlass  swung,  and  again  the 
axe  brushed  it  away,  and  again,  and  yet  again.  A 
fifth  time,  the  cutlass  swept  around,  aimed  at  the 
head,  which,  with  an  axe,  is  the  most  difficult  to  pro 
tect.  Marbury  had  just  time  to  spring  back,  the 
point  ripping  the  stock  at  his  neck,  and  cutting  the 
buckle  asunder.  The  next  instant,  ere  he  could 


THE  DEFEAT  153 

recover,  Marbury  whirled  his  weapon  aloft  and 
brought  it  down  with  all  his  force,  shearing  away 
the  guard,  which  the  pirate  raised  to  meet  it,  like 
a  willow  wand  and  sinking  deep  into  his  neck.  The 
man  dropped.  Marbury  jerked  out  the  axe,  and 
turned  to  help  the  others. 

He  found  Herford  hard  put  to  hold  his  own. 
He  had  been  wounded  slightly  in  the  arm,  and  was 
beginning  to  breathe  heavily.  Without  ado,  Mar- 
bury  stepped  behind  the  pirate,  and  felled  him  with 
a  blow  on  the  head. 

At  the  same  time,  Constable  passed  his  sword 
through  his  antagonist,  and,  as  the  man  fell,  he 
whipped  it  out  again,  and  turned  to  assist  Parking- 
ton.  But  the  latter  raised  his  hand  in  protest. 

"  I  will  kill  him  in  a  moment,"  he  said.  "  Pray, 

indulge  me Ah,  my  friend — you  do  not 

know  the  double  coup So,  take  it !  "  and  the 

man  died,  with  the  sword  in  his  throat. 

"  Four !  "  muttered  Marbury. 

"  Five !  with  the  man  you  shot,"  corrected  Park- 
ington. 

Suddenly,  there  arose  a  great  thumping  at  the 
rear,  accompanied  with  shots  and  curses  and  im 
precations.  Marbury  and  the  others  sprang  up  the 
stairway,  to  find  Snowden  and  the  rest  engaged  in 
repelling  a  desperate  onslaught  on  the  rear  door. 

While  the  fight  was  going  on  in  the  cellar,  the 
assailants  had  mustered  all  their  strength  in  the 
rear,  to  make  one  determined  effort  to  gain  admis- 


154  THE  IMPOSTOR 

sion.  Four  men  were  sent  to  the  wood-house  for  a 
log.  They  were  not  disturbed  by  the  defenders, 
who  were  not  wasting  bullets  on  the  departing. 
Another  contingent  followed,  and  were  likewise  un 
disturbed.  The  rest  gathered  close  along  the  side 
of  the  house  and  waited,  secure  from  those  within. 
Then,  of  a  sudden,  the  men  emerged  with  the  log, 
and  hurried  across  the  open  with  it.  Some  of  them 
fell  under  the  fire  of  the  besieged,  but  not  enough  to 
hinder,  and,  before  they  received  a  second  volley, 
they  had  the  log  safe  before  the  house.  Their 
first  assault  had  been  ineffectual,  they  were  muster 
ing,  now,  for  a  second. 

To  get  a  proper  swing,  it  was  necessary  to  go 
back  a  little  way  from  the  door;  the  moment  they 
did  so,  they  came  into  range  of  the  rifles  at  the 
nearest  windows.  Four  pirates  went  down  before 
their  fire — but  the  rest,  with  the  log  swung  from 
their  shoulders,  dashed  forward  and  hurled  it 
against  the  door. 

It  split  the  frame  and  shattered  it,  but  did  not 
drive  it  from  the  hinges,  nor  loosen  the  lock. 

"  A  good  door !  "  said  Parkington.  "  But  will 
it  stand  another?  " 

"  We  shall  soon  see,"  answered  Constable. 

Again  the  pirates  bore  back — again,  the  rifles 
cracked  and  four  of  them  went  down — again,  there 
was  a  crash — the  splinters  flew,  the  hinges  rattled, 
the  lock  sprang  inward,  bent  and  twisted,  but  the 
door  still  held. 


THE  DEFEAT  155 

"  It  will  not  stand  another,"  said  Parkington, 
drawing  his  sword.  "  Be  prepared." 

This  time,  however,  the  assailants  did  not  go  back. 
They  simply  lifted  the  log  and  sent  it  against  the 
lock.  And  the  door  yielded,  though  slowly  and  re 
luctantly,  dragging  backward  on  its  battered 
hinges,  so  that  the  foremost  pirates  had  to  fling 
themselves  forward  to  its  aid. 

Whereby,  the  nearest  met  his  death,  for  Parking- 
ton  saw,  and  quickly  passed  his  sword  through  the 
man's  heart,  the  body  tumbling  across  the  entrance. 
The  other  saved  himself  by  a  leap  back — but  the 
door  was  open,  now. 

With  a  rush,  the  pirates  came — to  be  met  by  a 
volley  of  bullets  that,  in  the  mass  of  men,  had 
deadly  effect.  They  stopped — wavered — and  then 
Parkington  and  Constable  were  at  them,  their  ra 
piers  flashing  as  they  sent  them  home. 

"  Ha !  ha ! "  laughed  the  former,  as  he  spitted 
his  man  in  the  jugular,  so  that  the  blood  jetted 
forth  in  a  great  stream.  "  I  would  not  have  missed 
this  sport  for  a  hundred  guineas. — Ha!  that  is  it, 
is  it? — well,  accept  this  in  exchange,  my  friend. 
....  What,  going !  and  so  soon !  Au  revoir, 
messieurs !  my  heart  goes  with  you — au  revoir. 
....  Mr.  Constable,  my  compliments  on  your 
sword-play,  it  was  most  expert.  True,  they  were 
but  pirates,  but  some  of  them  were  not  to  be 
despised."  And  with  a  formal  salute,  he  ran  his 
weapon  back  into  its  sheath. 


156  THE  IMPOSTOR 

The  pirates  were  going;  panic  had  seized  them, 
and  they  were  in  full  retreat — a  dozen  or  so  in  num 
ber,  caring  for  nothing  so  much  as  to  escape.  They 
wanted  no  more  of  the  house  that  had  been  their  mis 
fortune — that  had  seemed  so  easy  and,  yet,  in 
truth,  was  so  hard.  They  wanted  to  get  away — 
in  the  unreasoning  fear  that  held  them,  mad  flight 
alone  spelled  safety.  And  they  went,  scurrying 
across  the  lawn  and  through  the  park,  as  though  the 
Devil  and  all  his  battalions  were  riding  in  their 
wake. 

"  Terror  drives — ah1  else  is  forgotten,"  said 
Constable. 

"  We  can  be  thankful  for  the  terror,"  observed 
Parkington ;  "  it  saved  us,  I  fancy ;  we  should 
not  have  had  a  chance  had  they  been  properly  led." 

"  We  played  in  rare  good  luck,"  said  Snowden. 
"  Fifty  pirates !  and  only  a  flesh  wound  in  the  arm, 
and  a  shattered  door  to  pay  the  bill.  Oh!  what 
luck!" 

"  I  am  the  only  hero  among  you ! "  laughed 
Herford.  "  How  does  it  happen,  Parkington,  that 
you  let  me  get  away  with  the  wound?  " 

"  When  it  comes  to  that,"  was  the  ready  answer, 
"  you  are  welcome  to  the  honor, — if  honor  there  be 
in  letting  a  pirate  stick  you.  I  choose  the  whole 
hide  rather  than  the  hole." 

"  Come,  gentlemen,  let  us  inspect  the  casualties," 
said  Marbury,  and  led  the  way  out  to  the  rear. 

A  dozen  bodies  lay   on  the   grass  and  around 


THE  DEFEAT  157 

the  doorway — they  had  fallen  in  their  tracks,  proof 
of  the  deadly  shooting  of  the  defenders.  Marbury 
turned  them,  one  by  one,  with  his  foot,  to  make 
sure  that  they  would  buccaneer  no  more.  The  last 
one  groaned,  made  a  faint  move  to  arise,  and,  then, 
seeing  who  prodded  him,  drew  his  dagger  and 
plunged  it  into  his  heart. 

"  Wise  man !  "  said  Marbury.  "  He  saves  him 
self  a  tiresome  imprisonment  and  an  awful  death.*' 

On  the  other  side  of  the  house,  there  were  both 
dead  and  wounded,  the  former,  however,  being  much 
in  the  majority.  Of  the  latter,  two  were  maimed 
and  helpless,  and  Marbury  contented  himself  with 
directing  the  blacks  to  carry  them  into  the  nearest 
outhouse  and  give  them  drink.  He  would  come 
presently,  and  see  to  their  hurts.  Another, 
blinded  in  both  eyes  by  a  bullet,  was  wandering 
around  half  crazed  by  the  pain,  and  imploring  some 
one  to  kill  him.  He  had  lost  his  dagger  and  was 
without  weapon.  Marbury  looked  at  him  a  mo 
ment,  considering — then,  went  to  him. 

"  Here  is  what  you  want,"  he  said.  "  Make  an 
end." 

The  distracted  wretch  reached  out  wildly,  seized 
the  pistol,  that  Marbury  put  into  his  hand,  and  in 
stantly  sent  the  ball  into  his  brain. 

"  Dig  a  trench  back  of  the  park  and  bury  them," 
Marbury  directed,  when  they  had  viewed  the  last, 
and  turned  back  to  the  house.  And  the  blacks, 
straightway,  began  to  do  as  they  were  commanded. 


158  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  Here  endeth  the  reading  of  the  lesson ! "  com 
mented  Parkington. 

"  And  may  the  next  one  be  forever  postponed," 
added  Plater. 

"  Amen !  "  said  the  rest,  speaking  as  one  man. 

"  It  is  a  pity,  now,  the  ladies  were  put  to  the 
bother  of  riding  away,"  Parkington  reflected. 

The  others  stared  at  him  and  were  silent,  except 
Herford,  who  gave  a  little,  scornful  laugh. 

"  I  think  they  would  have  enjoyed  the  outcome," 
Parkington  went  on ;  "  and  then,  it  would  have 
given  Captain  Herford  the  opportunity  to  pose  as 
a  hero,  in  ipso  actu." 

"  Captain  Herford  can  take  care  of  himself — " 
he  began. 

"  As  you  have  shown  us,  my  dear  Captain,  as 
you  have  shown  us ! "  said  Parkington. 

At  which  Herford  scowled,  then  passed  it  by  with 
a  laugh. 

They  went  into  the  house,  and  opened  the  shut 
ters.  Everything  was  calm  and  peaceful,  as  of  yes 
terday.  Save  that  the  furniture  was  somewhat  dis 
arranged,  no  one  would  have  imagined  what  a 
strenuous  morning  had  been  theirs.  The  table  was 
spread  for  breakfast — the  breakfast  itself  had  been 
ready  to  serve.  Marbury  remembered  that  none 
of  them  had  eaten,  and  it  was  now  near  noon.  He 
turned  to  his  guests. 

"  Gentlemen,"  he  said,  with  a  wave  of  his  hand 
toward  the  ready  fare,  "  let  us  fall  to.  Joshua, 


THE  DEFEAT  159 

serve  the  meal — but  first,  I  think,  we  all  need  a 
drink."  He  motioned  toward  the  side-board,  where 
the  decanters  glistened.  "  Help  yourselves." 

Parkington  filled  his  glass,  and  held  it  up. 

"  Messieurs,"  he  said,  "  it  is  not  the  time  usually 
devoted  to  toasts,  but,  nevertheless,  I  give  you: 
i  The  ladies,  may  they  be  in  safety  now,  and  soon 
return  to  us.'  " 


XI 


THE    KEY 

A  IJTTLE  later,  Captain  Jamison  arrived  to  make 
his  report,  and  was  received  with  acclaims  and  con 
gratulations.  Whereat,  the  honest  sailor  was 
vastly  surprised,  not  imagining  that  they  were 
aware  of  what  had  happened  on  the  river.  He 
brought  with  him  the  bags  of  gold  and  the  silver 
which,  he  said,  he  supposed  was  the  ransom  money 
Marbury  had  paid  the  pirates,  it  having  been  found 
at  the  landing,  where  they  had  left  it  in  their  eager 
ness  to  recover  their  ship. 

When  questioned,  as  to  how  he  had  got  possession 
of  the  ship,  he  told  the  story : 

"  I  sailed  into  the  Patuxent,  with  a  good  breeze 
on  the  port  quarter,  and  came  in  sight  of  the  land 
ing,  at  about  six  bells  of  the  dog-watch.  I  noticed 
a  brig  lying  close  in  to  the  dock  that  was  strange  to 
me,  and,  on  coming  nearer,  I  hove  to  and  hailed  her. 
She  didn't  answer,  nor  could  I  see  any  one  aboard, 
so  I  hailed  again — and  a  third  time.  Then  a  man 
appeared  from  below,  and,  to  my  fourth  hail,  re 
sponded  something  in  a  jargon  I  could  not  under 
stand.  I  did  not  like  the  look  of  the  ship,  anyway, 
and  this  made  me  suspicious.  I  could  see  that  she 
carried  two  Long-Toms,  had  a  great  expanse  of 
sail,  and  was  built  to  go  a  very  fast  clip,  When 
160 


THE  KEY  161 

further  hails  were  ignored,  I  ordered  out  a  boat 
and  proceeded  to  board  her,  with  six  men.  How  we 
managed  it  is  of  no  moment.  Suffice  it  to  say,  we 
got  aboard  with  the  loss  of  one  man  dead  and  one 
wounded,  and  found  only  two  defenders.  We 
strung  them  both  up  to  the  yard-arm,  and  took 
possession.  It  was  a  pirate,  right  enough.  I  sup 
posed  its  crew  were  raiding  the  Hall,  sir,  and  I  was 
just  preparing  to  go  to  your  assistance,  when  I 
saw  them  returning.  I,  of  course,  did  not  know 
how  far  they  had  succeeded,  and  I  made  ready  to 
receive  them.  You  know  with  what  results.  It  was 
a  pretty  little  fight.  The  pirate  chief — at  least, 
I  made  him  so — alone  managed  to  get  aboard,  and 
had  killed  two  of  my  men,  when  I  knocked  him  over 
from  behind  with  a  belaying  pin.  He  stepped 
aside,  at  the  moment,  sufficiently  to  save  his  head 
and  catch  it  on  the  shoulder.  Hence,  a  broken 
collar  bone  instead  of  a  broken  skull.  He  is  not 
much  hurt.  I've  locked  him  up  in  the  cabin,  and 
put  a  guard  over  him.  With  your  permission,  Mr. 
Marbury,  I'll  have  him  up  at  the  end  of  a  rope  to 
join  his  comrades,  as  soon  as  I  get  back.  A  dead 
pirate  is  the  only  safe  one." 

"  I  think  I  would  not  be  so  hasty,"  said  Marbury, 
with  a  smile.  "  Do  you  know  who  he  is  ?  " 

*'  Not  I,  sir.  A  pirate's  a  pirate — the  quicker 
he's  dead  the  better  for  honest  men." 

"  You  forget  the  reward — there  must  be  at  least 
11 


162  THE  IMPOSTOR 

five  hundred  pounds  on  his  head.  Long-Sword 
is  worth  his  weight  in  gold." 

"  Long-Sword,  did  you  say  ?  Long-Sword  the 
Corsair?  " 

Marbury  nodded.     "  It  is  the  name  he  gave  me." 

Jamison  emitted  a  whistle  of  surprise. 

"  Well  I  should  say  he  is  a  gold  mine — it's  a 
thousand  guineas  reward  he  is.  I'll  carry  him 
straight  to  Annapolis — with  your  honor's  permis 
sion,  of  course — and  we  shall  see  him  doing  the 
gallows  dance  according  to  the  King's  justice. 
Ho,  ho !  Ho,  ho !  I  think  I'll  be  quitting  the  sea, 

sir,  and  settling  down Long-Sword!  May 

the  Lord  save  me !  I  must  go  and  put  him  in  double 
irons,  at  once.  He  may  have  a  broken  collar  bone, 
and  be  locked  in  the  cabin,  but  nothing  but  double 
irons  will  hold  him  safe." 

"  And  what  of  the  pirate  ship  ?  "  asked  Parking- 
ton.  "  If  Long-Sword  is  a  prize,  it  should  be  a 
veritable  treasure  house." 

"  I  purposely  refrained  from  examining  her," 
Jamison  answered.  "  I  left  that  for  Mr.  Mar- 
bury." 

"  I  will  come  down,  presently,"  said  Marbury. 
"  Meanwhile,  you  may  proceed  with  making  an  in 
ventory  of  the  booty  aboard." 

Jamison  saluted  and  departed.  The  party  fin 
ished  the  meal,  and  went  out  on  the  lawn.  The 
dead  had  been  taken  away  for  burial,  and  the 
evidences  of  the  late  struggle  were  being  removed. 


THE  KEY  163 

"  I  hope  the  house  party  is  not  ended,"  said 
George  Marbury.  "  The  ladies  can  come  back, 
and,  I  am  sure,  feel  perfectly  safe." 

"  I  fancy  that  is  for  the  ladies  to  decide,"  said 
Snowden : — "  though  I  am  quite  willing  for  Mrs. 
Snowden  to  return.  We,  at  least,  have  seen  the  last 
of  the  pirates,  I  imagine." 

The  other  men  had  the  same  opinion,  though  Her- 
ford  thought  that  he  would  much  prefer  to  have 
killed  all  the  pirates,  and  not  had  a  bunch  running 
loose  in  the  vicinity. 

"  There  is  no  danger  to  us,"  said  Plater.  "  They 
will  get  out  of  the  neighborhood  about  as  fast  as 
they  can.  They  may  do  some  marauding,  on  the 
march,  but  it  will  not  be  twice  in  the  same  place — 
and  it  will  not  be  anything  that  will  require  time. 
They  are  in  too  great  a  hurry.  I  will  wager,  that 
they  have  already  separated  in  twos  and  threes, 
to  foregather  at  an  appointed  place — York  or 
thereabouts.  I  too  am  quite  willing  for  Mrs.  Plater 
to  return." 

And  so  it  was,  that  he  and  Snowden  and  Con 
stable  were  designated  to  go  to  Rose  Hill  and  bring 
the  ladies  back — it  being  understood  that  nothing 
be  said  to  them  of  the  pirates'  second  attack. 

A  little  later,  Marbury  set  out  for  the  dock  to 
inspect  the  pirate  ship.  As  he  was  going  down  the 
steps,  Parkington  called  to  him,  that,  if  he  had  no 
objection,  he  would  be  glad  to  accompany  him. 


164  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  Come  along,  sir,"  he  answered — "  but  I  think, 
if  the  others  do  not  mind,  they  would  better  remain 
to  welcome  the  ladies,  and  insure  that  the  house  is 
here  for  them — there  is  just  a  chance  that  the 
pirates  may  return." 

"  Is  not  this  attack  most  unusual  ?  "  Sir  Edward 
asked,  as  they  came  in  sight  of  the  landing. 

"  It  is  more  than  unusual — it  is  extraordinary. 
We  have  not  known  of  a  pirate  north  of  the  West 
Indies  for  forty  years — and,  as  for  one  venturing 
inside  the  Capes,  I  fancy,  it  is  not  in  the  memory 
of  man.  Of  course,  we  had  heard  of  Long-Sword, 
as  the  most  notorious  buccaneer  on  the  old  Spanish 
Main ;  but  that  is  far  from  the  Chesapeake.  We 
never  thought  to  see  him  here,  sir." 

"  I  think  I  should  like  to  talk  with  him,"  said 
Parkington.  "  It  will  be  quite  an  interesting  ex 
perience." 

Marbury  laughed.  "  You  will  be  all  the  rage  in 
London — the  man  who  spoke  with  Long-Sword — 
and  survived ! " 

"  I  am  not  so  sure  as  to  London — and  I  care 
nothing  for  being  the  rage.  It  is  the  novelty  of  the 
thing  that  takes  me." 

"  Well,  you  may  quiz  him  to  your  heart's  content, 
and  I  think  you  will  find  him,  outwardly  at  least, 
a  gentleman.  He  impressed  me  as  being  of  supe 
rior  birth — however  much  he  may  have  backslid  in 
his  calling — and  his  manners  are  the  equal  of  your 
own." 


THE  KEY  165 

Jamison  had  seen  them  coming  down  the  avenue, 
and  had  sent  a  boat  ashore  for  them.  He  had  not 
allowed  any  at  the  landing,  he  explained,  lest  the 
pirates  return,  and  make  trouble. 

"  Sir  Edward  Parkington  wants  to  see  Long- 
Sword,"  said  Marbury.  "  Is  he  in  the  cabin,  or 
have  you  had  him  taken  below." 

"  He  is  in  the  cabin,  sir,"  Jamison  answered.  "  I 
concluded  to  put  the  irons  only  on  his  legs — I 
think  that  will  hold  him.  If  you  will  step  here, 
sir,  I  will  admit  you." 

He  unlocked  the  cabin  door,  and  pushed  it  open, 
and  motioned  the  guard  away. 

"  Long-Sword,  here  is  Sir  Edward  Parkington, 
who  would  speak  with  you,"  he  said. — "  You  will 
excuse  me,  sir,  I  must  join  Mr.  Marbury. 

Parkington  nodded,  and  stepped  within.  The 
pirate  turned,  slowly,  on  the  bunk. 

"  You  will  pardon  me  for  not  rising,"  he  said ; 
"  I  am  a  trifle  indisposed,"  and  he  indicated  the 
irons.  "  How  can  I  serve  you?  " 

"  Say  rather  how  I  can  serve  you?  "  Parkington 
replied. 

Long-Sword  laughed  shortly.  "  By  finishing 
what  that  merchantman  bungled — make  an  end  of 
me,  or  permit  me  to  make  an  end  of  myself." 

"  You  are  depressed — a  most  unusual  thing  for 
you." 

"Eh— what's  that!"  the  other  ejaculated— "  a 
most  unusual  thing  for  me! — who  are  you?  " 


166  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  A  friend,"  said  Sir  Edward. 

"  I  caught  your  name  as  Parkington,  did  I  not  ?  " 

"  You  did." 

11  Then  I  do  not  even  know  you,  sir — how  can 
you  be  a  friend?  " 

"  Is  foreknowledge  a  prerequisite  to  friendship  ?  " 
Sir  Edward  asked. 

"  Marry,  yes ;  and  even  then  it  is  a  rare  article," 
said  the  pirate  with  a  sneer.  "  I  am  a  victim  of 
that  same  friendship,  so  you  will  permit  me  to 
doubt." 

"  Yes,  I  know ;  the  faithless  friend  and  the  dis 
loyal  wife.  I " 

"  Who  are  you,  sir !  Come  out  of  the  shadow, 
if  you  are  not  afraid  to  show  yourself,  I  cannot  hurt 
you,  now !  " 

"  Brandon,"  said  Parkington,  stepping  into  the 
light,  "  you  have,  I  fear,  reached  the  end  of  your 
string." 

"  De  Lysle !  "  exclaimed  the  wounded  man.  "  May 
the  Devil  take  me !  What  do  you  here — and  under 
a  false  name?  Did  England  get  too  warm  for 
you?  " 

Parkington  nodded.  "  Something  of  the  sort ;  so 
I  borrowed  another's — a  dead  man's — for  the  time." 

Brandon  laughed,  grimly.  "  Methinks  your 
string  is  little  longer  than  my  own — though  I 
wish  you  success  with  the  game  you  are  playing, 
whatever  it  is." 


THE  KEY  167 

Parkington  took  a  low  stool,  from  the  corner, 
and  sat  down. 

"  The  immediate  point  is  to  lengthen  your 
string,"  he  said. 

"  You  will  help  me  to  escape?  "  the  other  asked. 

"  Yes — I  have  not  forgot  the  old  days,  Charles." 

Brandon  looked  at  him  thoughtfully. 

"  Why?  "  he  asked,  "  what  is  the  quid  pro  quo?  " 

"  Nothing  whatever,  but  past  deeds.  You  forget 
the  risk  is  mine.  I  put  myself  in  your  power,  when 
I  came  here.  A  word  from  you,  and  I  am  undone." 

"A  word  from  the  pirate,  taken  red-handed? 
Oh,  no !  But  I  will  grant  anything  you  ask,  in 
reason  and  out.  I  may  not  cavil  with  the  noose 
before  my  nose." 

"  Wait,  then,  until  I  ask  it ! "  laughed  Parking- 
ton.  "  How  is  your  wounded  shoulder." 

"  It  is  nothing — only  a  broken  collar-bone.  I 
have  led  many  a  boarding  party  with  worse.  It  is 
these  damn  things  that  weigh  me  down,"  indicating 
the  irons. 

"  You  could  swim  to  shore,  if  they  were  off?  " 
queried  Parkington. 

"  Easily.     Besides,  if  I  fail,  I  win  anyway." 

"  And  the  key  to  the  irons  is  in  Jamison's  pocket ! 
Well,  it  shall  be  my  business  to  abstract  it.  And, 
then,  having  got  it  to  you,  the  rest  depends  upon 
yourself — aided  by  my  prayers." 

"  If  it  is  just  the  same  to  you,  I  would  prefer 


168  THE  IMPOSTOR 

you  stopped  with  the  key,"  said  Brandon.  "  I 
doubt  the  efficacy  of  your  prayers." 

"  So  be  it — I  will  leave  the  praying  to  you." 

"How  long  am  I  to  be  kept  here?"  asked 
Brandon. 

"  Only  a  day  or  two,  I  believe.  It  is  the  pur 
pose  of  Captain  Jamison  to  carry  you  to  Annapolis 
for  trial." 

"  And,  in  the  meantime,  you  will  try  for  the 
key?" 

"  I  shall  try  for  the  key  before  I  leave  the  ship," 
said  Parkington.  "  What  troubles  me,  is  an  excuse 
to  come  back  to  you  when  I  have  it Bran 
don,  how  long  have  you  been  doing — this?  " 

"  You  mean,  how  long  have  I  been  sailing  under 
the  Jolly  Roger?  Four  years,  this  spring.  It 
was  down  in  Havana.  I  fell  in  with  a  Captain 
Sparks.  From  cards  to  a  duel  was  an  easy  transi 
tion.  I  killed  Sparks,  and,  for  want  of  something 
better  to  do,  I  seized  his  ship,  put  my  sword  through 
his  mate — who  questioned  my  authority — and  ruled 
in  his  stead." 

"  And  took  the  soubriquet  of  Long-Sword." 

"  The  men  gave  me  the  name  for  want  of  a 
better.  My  rapier  struck  them  as  of  unusual 
length." 

"  And  of  unusual  strength,"  said  Parkington, 
*'  as  they,  doubtless,  were  made  to  realize." 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  so — they  were  a  trifle  unruly, 
at  first,  and  resented  discipline.  They  came  to  it, 


THE  KEY  169 

however,"  and  he  smiled  faintly.  "  It  is  a  long 
story,  De  Lysle,  a  long  story ! — too  long  to  tell  at 
this  time.  I  am  done  with  the  business,  now.  I 
should  have  quit  a  year  ago.  I  had  made  enough, 
for  the  present,  and  it  is  poor  sport,  anyway — 
there  is  too  much  blood-letting  in  it.  If  I  get  out 
of  this  fix,  Long-Sword  vanishes  forever.  I  will 
go  home,  and  live  decently.  You  would  better  fol 
low  my  example,  De  Lysle." 

"  Not  at  present,  thank  you ;  may  be,  not  at  all." 

The  other  looked  at  him  and  laughed. 

"  You  are  visiting  at  the — Hedgely  Hall,  are 
you  ?  "  he  asked. 

Parkington  nodded. 

"  And  there  is  an  eligible  daughter  ?  " 

Another  nod. 

"  I  think  I  comprehend.  And  you  saw  and  recog 
nized  me,  while  the  master  of  the  house  was  arrang 
ing  the  terms  of  a  ransom.  By  the  Lord !  I  won 
der  what  became  of  the  gold? — you  might  take  it, 
yourself,  if  it  has  not  been  picked  up.  It  must  be 
at  the  landing,  somewhere." 

"  The  ransom  was  found  by  Captain  Jamison, 
and  returned  to  Marbury,"  Parkington  explained. 

"  Well,  it  is  a  pity.  It  would  have  come  handy, 
I  reckon.  But,  if  you  get  the  girl,  you  will  get 
the  money,  too.  Tell  me,  did  you  have  this  scheme 
in  mind,  when  you  left  England? — No — and  has 
your  change  of  name  anything  to  do  with  it?  " 

"  Damn  the  change  of  name !  "  said  Parkington. 


170  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  It  complicates  everything,  and  I  do  not  know  how 
to  get  rid  of  it." 

"  Parkington  ? — Parkington  ? — Was  not  he  a 
friend  of  Baltimore — one  of  his  women  chasers  ?  " 

"  The  same ;  "  and  told  him,  briefly,  the  story  of 
the  wreck,  the  letters,  and  the  substitution. 

Brandon  laughed.  "  And,  now,  the  girl  inter 
venes?  I  do  not  see  how  you  can  manage  it  and 
remain  in  the  Colony.  Better  give  her  up  and 
continue  your  travels. — You  are  not  in  love  with 
her?" 

"  Lord !  no  !  " 

"And  she?" 

"Is  not  either." 

"  Then  you  have  only  your  powers  as  lady-killer, 
and  being  an  Englishman,  to  win  out  with.  Man ! 
man !  you  better  abandon  the  damsel  and  move  on. 
It  may  be  pleasant  sport,  but  it  is  too  dangerous." 

A  heavy  step  crossed  the  deck  and  the  door 
opened,  to  admit  the  skipper. 

"  Sir  Edward,  I  am  sent  by  Mr.  Marbury  to  ask 
if  you  would  care  to  look  over  the  ship  with  him. 
There  is  much  of  interest,  I  can  assure  you — these 
pirates  were  queer  gatherers.  Hey,  Long- 
Sword?" 

Brandon  was  not  inclined  to  answer,  but  Parking- 
ton  gave  him  a  quick  look,  and,  instantly,  he  under 
stood.  Here  was  the  chance  to  pick  Jamison's 
pocket,  and  to  give  him  the  key  without  having 


THE  KEY  171 

to  return  to  the  cabin.  They  must  take  the  oppor 
tunity. 

"  Yes — that  they  were !  "  said  he.  "  We  sailed 
many  seas  and  encountered  many  ships,  and  they  all 
paid  toll.  I  am  sorry  we  have  not  aboard  all  that 
we  gathered — of  gold  and  silver,  jewels  and  women. 
It  is  a  rare  life,  skipper,  a  rare  life !  Sometime, 
the  fever  may  catch  you,  and,  then,  hey  for  the 
Jolly  Roger,  and  farewell  to  the  merchantman." 

"  Bosh !  You  are  talking  to  hear  yourself  talk, 
Long-Sword,"  said  Jamison.  "  Your  end  is  going 
to  be  enough  to  keep  me  straight,  even  if  I  want 
to  go  wrong.  No  Jolly  Roger  for  mine,  thank 
God !  Sometimes,  it  pays  almost  as  well  to  catch 
a  pirate  as  to  be  one." 

"  It  pays  better  in  this  case,"  said  Brandon, 
laughing.  "What  is  the  reward  for  me?" 

He  saw  his  friend's  fingers  steal  in  to  the  skip 
per's  breeches  pocket — and  come  out  empty. 

"  A  thousand  guineas ! — oh,  you  are  rated  high 
in  the  profession — right  at  the  top !  I  calculate, 
with  my  share  of  the  prize  money  and  the  reward, 
to  settle  down  in  Annapolis,  and  cruise  no  more." 
(Parkington  crossed  the  cabin,  idly,  to  the  other 
side,  then  stopped  close  by  Jamison. )  "  Of  course, 
I'll  have  my  barge,  and  a  couple  of  blacks  to  row 
it,  and  a  small  schooner  to  sail  the  Bay,  just  to 
keep  my  hand  and  voice  in.  Oh!  it's  lucky  for  me, 
that  I  came  up  the  Patuxent  this  morning,  and 
didn't  delay  along  the  Coast  until  noon!"  (The 


172  THE  IMPOSTOR 

skipper  was  standing  with  his  thumbs  under  his 
armpits,  his  chest  thrown  out,  his  head  in  the  air — 
his  pockets  invitingly  open.) 

"  Honesty  gains  its  own  reward,"  said  Parking- 
ton,  slyly  slipping  in  his  hand.  "  Captain  Jamison 
will  be  an  honored  citizen  of  Annapolis,  while  you, 
Long-Sword,  will  be  nothing  but  a  bloody  mem 
ory."  (The  hand  came  out,  and  the  key  was  in  it.) 
"  'Tis  small  profit  at  the  best  this  being  a  pirate, 
and  cannot  be  for  long.  When  the  end  comes,  there 
is  naught  remains  but  to  die  bravely." 

Brandon  heaved  a  sigh  of  resignation.  "  I  will 
die  game,  never  fear,"  he  said. 

"  Oh,  it  is  entirely  your  concern,  how  you  die !  " 
laughed  Parkington.  "  If  you  leave  it  to  the  mob, 
the  more  you  cringe  and  pray  the  more  they  will 
yell." 

He  took  out  his  snuff  box,  and  extended  it  to  him. 

"  Yes,  thank  you !  "  said  Brandon.  "  You  are 
very  kind,  indeed." 

Parkington  crossed  to  the  bunk,  thereby  throwing 
himself  between  the  skipper  and  the  prisoner,  and 
with  his  back  to  the  former.  When  he  stepped 
aside,  the  key  was  in  the  other's  possession. 

"  Thank  you,  monsieur,  thank  you,  heartily," 
said  Brandon — "  it  is  delicious,  delicious !  May  I 
impose  on  you  for  another  pinch — I  lost  my  box 
during  the  fight?  " 

Parkington  handed  him  the  box,  and,  this  time, 


THE  KEY  173 

he  was  careful  to  stand  so  that  the  skipper  could 
see  distinctly. 

"  Accept  it  as  a  gift,"  said  he.  "  As  a  slight 
return  for  an  hour  pleasantly  spent. — Nay,  I  insist ; 
I  must  to  Mr.  Marbury,  so  permit  me  to  wish  you, 
sir,  a  very  good  morning." 

And  with  a  bow  and  a  smile,  he  preceded  the 
skipper  to  the  deck. 

"  Nerve,  hasn't  he?  "  said  the  skipper.  "  One 
would  never  know  he  has  a  broken  collar-bone,  and 
heavy  irons  on  his  legs." 

"  He  will  die  like  a  gentleman." 

"  He  confided  in  you,  sir? "  Jamison  asked, 
eagerly. 

"  No — that  is  the  last  thing  a  gentleman  would 
do.  He  was  Long-Sword  when  taken,  he  will  die 
as  Long-Sword.  When  do  you  sail  for  Annap 
olis?  " 

"  To-morrow — as  soon  as  the  inventory  is  com 
pleted. — She  is  not  as  rich,  sir,  as  I  anticipated,  but 
there  will  be  a  plenty,  sir,  a  plenty." 

"  Ha,  Sir  Edward,  this  is  a  peculiar  proceeding — 
taking  account  of  a  pirate  ship,"  said  Marbury. 
"  I  don't  know  the  law  of  such  prizes,  but  I'll  be 
on  the  safe  side;  no  King's  deputy  is  going  to 
pick  things  over  without  any  one  to  check  him." 

"  A  wise  precaution,  and  an  interesting  transac 
tion, — in  fact,  a  wholly  enjoyable  occasion,"  Park- 
ington  answered.  "  Jewels,  money,  gay  apparel, — 


everything  to  appeal  to  one.  You  have  got  well 
into  it,  I  see,"  pointing  to  the  deck. 

"  We  have  finished  it,  so  far  as  such  things  are 
concerned — that  is,  we  have  finished  the  collecting. 
They  must  have  lately  buried  or  spent  their  ill- 
gotten  gains ;  this  is  the  gatherings  of  only  a  com 
paratively  short  time,  I  think. 

"  For  these  things  make  us  duly  thankful ! " 
laughed  Parkington. 

"  Oh !  I  am  not  complaining,  and  neither,  I  fancy, 
is  Jamison.  I  am  satisfied — more  than  satisfied. 
Here  is  a  diamond  brooch,  worth  at  least  five  hun 
dred  pistoles — and  another — and  another.  They 
were  in  Long-Sword's  cabin.  And  this  bezelled 
ruby,  equally  as  valuable ;  and  this  emerald,  bigger 
than  the  others,  I  know  not  the  worth  of.  There 
is  much  gold  and  silver,  too,  and  many  rings  and — 
well,  I  should  put  it  all  at  twenty  thousand  pounds, 
though  half  may  be  too  much.  Then,  there  is  the 
ship  itself — and  Jamison  and  the  crew  have  the 
reward  to  boot.  Oh,  he  can  leave  the  sea,  and 
settle  down,  if  he  is  so  minded." 

Parkington  looked  down  at  the  pile  of  plunder 
at  his  feet.  Marbury  had  been  modest  in  his  esti 
mate,  he  knew.  It  may,  as  he  said,  have  been  the 
pickings  of  a  short  cruise,  but  it  was  a  rich  prize, 
then,  that  they  had  gathered.  There  were  jewels 
of  many  kinds  and  many  sizes,  other  than  the  few 
Marbury  had  enumerated.  Dozens  of  pearls,  and 
sapphires,  rubies  and  diamonds — set  in  rings,  and 


THE  KEY  175 

singly — encrusted  in  daggers,  and  swords,  and  fans. 
Great  heaps  of  stuffs :  silks  and  laces,  tapestries  and 
damaskins. 

"  Mr.  Marbury's  valuation  is  much  too  low," 
said  he,  looking  at  Jamison. 

"  Do  you  think  so,  sir?  Well,  the  bigger  the 
value  the  better."  He  plunged  his  hands  into  his 
breeches  pocket  and  squared  away.  "  I  do  not — 
Why,  where,  in  hell,  is  the  key !  "  he  cried. 

"  What  key !  "  demanded  Marbury. 

"  The  key  to  the  irons — Long-Sword's  irons ;  I 
had  it  an  hour  ago — here,  in  my  pocket ! — I " 

"  Then  you,  doubtless,  lost  it  in  the  confusion  of 
gathering  all  this  plunder,"  said  Parkington. 

"  And  it  is  no  great  matter,  anyway,"  Marbury 
remarked.  "  You  don't  intend  to  remove  the  irons, 
so  long  as  Long-Sword  is  in  your  custody,  do 
you?  " 

"  No,  most  assuredly  not !  " 

"  Then  the  Annapolis  authorities  can  cut  them 
off  at  their  leisure,  if  they  have  not  a  key.  They 
are  locked  on  now,  which  is  the  essential  thing." 

"  How  do  you  suppose  I  lost  it?     I- " 

"  Never  mind  how  you  lost  it,"  said  Marbury, 
impatiently.  "  You  have  got  the  man,  so  nothing 
else  matters.  I  want  to  finish  the  inventory,  and 
get  back  to  the  house.  Sir  Edward,  do  not  let  me 
keep  you,  if  you  wish  to  return. — You  have  had 
your  talk  with  Long-Sword?  " 


176  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  Yes — and  you  are  right — he  is  well  born, 
though,  of  course,  as  to  that,  he  kept  silent.  He 
was  ready  enough,  however,  to  talk  over  his  pirate 
days — he  recognizes  the  inevitable  and  accepts  it. 
There  will  be  no  snivelling  from  him,  I  think." 

"  He  may  be  a  pirate,  but  to  my  mind,  he  is 
pretty  much  of  a  man.  Jamison,  let  Sir  Edward  be 
put  ashore." 

"  Well,  it  is  up  to  Brandon,  now,"  Parkin gton  re 
flected  as  he  stepped  from  the  boat,  at  the  landing, 
and  turned  toward  the  house.  "  And,  unless  I  am 
not  much  mistaken,  there  will  be  a  pirate  chief 
missing,  in  the  morning.  And,  pray  God,  he  wins 
out!  Who  would  have  thought  Sir  Charles  Bran 
don  would  ever  have  become  a  buccaneer?  He  was 
the  gayest  of  us  all,  until,  one  evening,  he  surprised 
his  wife  in  his  friend's  arms.  He  killed  the  friend 
at  the  next  day-break,  then  disappeared;  we  never 
saw  him  more !  And  to  think,  that  Long-Sword  the 
Corsair  is  he !  Long-Sword !  they  named  him  well 
— there  was  not  a  man,  in  all  England,  who  could 
stand  up  before  him  with  a  hope  of  success.  Many 
is  the  trick  of  fence  he  has  taught  me — and  other 
tricks,  as  well.  I  would  I  could  help  him  more — 
yet,  I  have  done  all  I  can.  The  couple  of  guineas, 
I  concealed  in  the  snuff-box,  may  be  of  assistance; 
I  could  manage  no  more.  That  devil  of  a  skipper 
came  a  bit  too  soon."  ....  He  walked  a  little 
way,  in  silent  meditation.  Then  shook  himself, 


THE  KEY  177 

like  one  throwing  off  a  spell.  "  High  ho !  I  am 
becoming  morbid.  When  the  devil  drives,  the  road 
is  apt  to  be  a  trifle  rough,  in  spots.  Brandon's 
fortunes  are  his  own — I  must  not  let  them  affect 

me To  marry  or  not  to  marry? — to  make 

the  maid  care  for  me  or  not  ? — and  whether  the  maid 
can  be  made  to  care  or  not? — that  is  the  question. 
And,  more  important  still,  shall  I  or  shall  I  not  doff 
the  masquerade?  Poof!  I  am  growing  childish 
— I  cannot  make  up  my  mind.  To-morrow — to 
morrow — to-morrow !  To-morrow  is  another  day ! 
— but,  to-morrow  never  comes  !  Bah !  I  will  decide 
to-day!  " 


XII 

MAYNADIER'S  DREAM 

THE  ladies  came  back  from  Rose  Hill,  just  before 
supper,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Richard  Maynadier 
and  Mr.  Bordley,  who  had  stopped  the  night  with 
him. 

It  was  to  the  calm  and  peaceful  Hedgely  Hall 
of  yesterday,  that  they  returned,  not  the  one  of 
turmoil  and  stress,  which  they  had  left  that  morn 
ing.  There  were  no  traces  of  a  struggle  around  the 
place;  the  grounds  were  as  usual,  the  house  as 
usual,  the  servants  as  usual.  The  only  evidence 
that  remained,  were  the  scars  on  the  rear  door,  and 
even  those  had  been  almost  obliterated. 

"  It  is  all  a  fairy  tale !  "  laughed  Richard  May 
nadier,  "  this  wonderful  story  of  pirates,  and  ran 
som,  and  their  chief  being  in  manners  a  gentleman, 
bowing  and  scraping  as  though  he  were  doing  the 
minuet.  I  do  not  believe  a  word  of  it." 

"  No  one  asked  you  to  believe  it !  "  retorted  Miss 
Marbury,  with  a  toss  of  her  head,  "  and,  what  is 
more,  no  one  cares  whether  you  do  or  whether  you 
do  not." 

"  You  said  that  as  if  you  meant  it,"  said  Mayna 
dier  with  an  amused  smile,  "  and  you  said  it  very 
prettily,  Judith, — but  can  you  assume  to  answer 
for  all  your  party  ?  " 
178 


MAYNADIER'S  DREAM  179 

"  You  know  perfectly  well  that  '  no  one '  is 
equivalent  to  I,"  she  answered,  with  another  toss. 

"  Then  I  is  equivalent  to  no  one,  and  no  one  com 
prehends  any  one,  and  any  one  comprehends  everj 
one,  and  every  one " 

"  Dick !  "  she  cried :  "  Stop  it !  stop  it !  " 

"Stop  what?" 

"  Winding  yourself  into  a  ball." 

"  I  thought  I  was  deducing  a  fact." 

"  Well,  stop  it !  Besides,  I  do  not  care  for  the 
fact — and  neither  do  I  care  for  you,  sir." 

"  Is  that  a  fact  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  It  is,"  she  answered.     "  Very  much  a  fact.** 

"  Are  you  sure — quite  sure?  " 

She  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

"  Because,  if  you  are " 

"Yes?"  she  inflected. 

"  I  will  be  obliged  to " 

"  You  will  be  obliged  to  what?  " 

"  To  modify  my  opinion  of " 

"  Your  opinion  does  not  concern  me,"  she  said 
indifferently. 

"  So,  I  assumed ;  but,  nevertheless,  I  modify  it  in 
regard  to  the  pirates.  I  accept  everything  you 
tell,  absolutely — the  pirate  chief  and  all  his  manner 
isms,  included. — Now,  do  you  care  for  me?  " 

"  You  are  sincere — you  believe  it,  every  word?  n 

"  Every  word,"  he  averred. 

"  Well,  in  that  event,  I  may  care  for  you  to 
morrow." 


180  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  And  to-day — this  evening?  " 

She  shook  her  head.  "  No — you  must  pay  pen 
alty  for  a  little  while.  I  am  going  to  give  this 
evening  to  Sir  Edward  Parkington,"  she  said,  as 
he  swung  her  out  of  the  saddle,  and  added :  "  He, 
I  know,  cares."  Then  ran  hurriedly  up  the  steps, 
and  into  the  house. 

Richard  Maynadier  hastily  turned  the  horses 
over  to  a  groom,  and  made  to  follow  her,  reconsid 
ered,  and  went  on  to  the  library. 

This  was  a  new  twist  in  her  character,  savoring 
more  of  the  spoiled  beauty,  than  of  the  equal- 
tempered  Judith  he  had  known.  And  he  was  not 
so  sure  that  he  did  not  like  it.  She  had  the  beauty 
to  justify  it,  the  poise  to  make  it  alluring — and  the 
wealth  to  make  it  permissible,  even  if  she  had 
neither  of  the  other  two. 

"  I  might  almost,  if  I  were  a  younger  man,"  he 
reflected,  "  think  she  was  trying  to  make  a  fool  of 
me,  or  else  was  in  love  with  me.  But,  as  I  can  not 
think  either,  she  must  just  be  trying  her  hand  oh 
the  old  friend,  who  will  not  misunderstand.  Sir 
Edward  Parkington ! — '  he,  I  know,  cares ! '  Well, 
my  lady,  do  not  presume  with  him  too  far.  He  is 
one,  I  fancy,  who  is  apt  to  take  whatever  comes 
his  way." 

At  supper,  Parkington  was  placed  at  her  right 
and  Herford  on  the  left,  and  he  observed  that  the 
former  exerted  his  privilege,  and  monopolized  the 
conversation.  Herford,  several  times,  tried  to 


MAYNADIER'S  DREAM  181 

break  in,  but  was  always  manoeuvred  out  of  it ;  and, 
presently,  with  a  somewhat  bad  grace,  he  gave 
over,  and,  thereafter,  Parkington  had  it  all  his 
own  way. 

And  Judith  seemed  to  encourage  him,  at  least, 
she  did  nothing  to  discourage ;  she  was  blindly  obliv 
ious  to  Herford's  efforts,  gave  him  no  assistance, 
and  welcomed  Sir  Edward  back  into  the  talk  with 
almost  flattering  eagerness.  Whereat,  Maynadier 
was  puzzled,  and  a  trifle  surprised.  Here,  also, 
was  a  new  twist  in  her  character. 

A  little  later,  when  he  was  strolling  alone  down 
the  avenue,  he  was  joined  by  Herford,  who,  after  a 
few  minutes'  talk,  said  bluntly: 

"  Maynadier,  am  I  right  in  supposing  you  have 
no  particular  interest  in  Sir  Edward  Parkington?  " 

"  What  do  you  intend  by  '  particular  interest '?  " 
asked  Maynadier. 

"  Friendship — friendship  as  distinguished  from 
acquaintanceship." 

"  If  you  mean,  am  I  an  acquaintance  rather  than 
a  friend  of  Sir  Edward  Parkington,  I  should  say, 
yes." 

"  Then  you  have  no  objection,  if  I  speak 
plainly?" 

"  None  whatever,"  said  Maynadier.  "  I  am  not 
his  sponsor,  and  neither  am  I  responsible  for  what 
you  say." 

Herford  nodded.  "  Did  it  ever  strike  you  that 
there  is  something  queer  about  him  ?  "  he  asked. 


18*  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  No,  it  did  not.  On  the  contrary,  I  think 
that  he  is  possessed  of  faculties  far  above  the 
ordinary." 

"  I  expressed  myself  poorly,"  said  Herford.  "  I 
meant  that  he  is  not  what  he  seems." 

Maynadier  was  silent. 

"  There  is  something  about  him  which  raises  a 
doubt,"  Herford  went  on. 

"  A  doubt  as  to  his  personality,  or  a  doubt  as  to 
his  good  repute?  "  asked  Maynadier. 

"  As  to  the  latter,"  was  the  sneering  reply,  "  he 
is  a  friend  of  Baltimore — which  is  sufficient  to  put 
him  under  a  standing  suspicion.  As  to  his  person 
ality,  I  do  not  mean  that  he  is  not  Sir  Edward 
Parkington — his  letters  were  entirely  regular — but 
that  he  is  playing  a  part.  He  does  not  ring  true. 
I  cannot  tell  just  what  it  is,  Maynadier,  but  it  is. 
How  does  he  impress  you?  " 

"  No !  no !  Herford,"  said  Maynadier.  "  I  did 
not  engage  to  swap  confidences  with  you,  concerning 
Sir  Edward  Parkington.  All  I  said  was  that  you 
might  speak  plainly  concerning  him,  if  you  so 
wished." 

"  I  do  not  ask  for  your  confidence,"  said  Herford. 
"  I  recognize  that  you  are  of  the  Council,  and  may 
know  matters  which  are  not  for  us " 

"  The  Council  has  no  information  whatever,  con 
cerning  Sir  Edward,"  Maynadier  interrupted. 

"  Which  goes  to  show  that  he  is  not  an  agent 
of  the  government." 


MAYNADIER'S  DREAM  183 

("  Which  goes  to  show  nothing  of  the  sort," 
thought  Maynadier. ) 

"  And  that  he  is  here  solely  on  his  own  account. 
As  I  said,  I  do  not  know  what  makes  me  suspicious, 
but  I  am.  Did  you  notice  him  with  Miss  Marbury 
— ever  since  we  came  here,  it  has  been  going  on — 
but  especially  to-night.  He  has  fascinated  her." 

"Oh!  I  think  not,"  said  Maynadier.  "She  is 
the  gracious  hostess  to  her  guest,  who  happens  to 
be  a  man  of  prominence — nothing  more.  And, 
even  if  he  has  fascinated  her,  how  does  it  concern 
either  of  us?  She  has  a  father  and  a  brother,  who 
are  amply  able  to  care  for  her.  Furthermore,  as 
to  your  proposition,  it  proves  nothing,  except  that 
he  is  much  above  the  average  in  attractiveness." 

"  But  you  could  warn  them." 

"  Warn  them  of  what?  "  said  Maynadier,  smiling1. 

"  Of  the  danger." 

"  The  danger  of  what?  " 

"  Of  her  showing  him  so  much  encouragement." 

"  And  be  laughed  at  for  my  pains — or  shown  the 
door." 

"  Your  intimacy  with  the  Marburys  will  permit 
it." 

"  Intimacy  never  warrants  presumption." 

"  Friendship  does." 

"  Besides  I  do  not  agree  with  you." 

"  You  are  blind !  "  declared  Herford,  "  as  blind 
as  the  Governor,  himself." 

"  And  how  is  his  Excellency  afflicted  ?  " 


184.  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  In  blindness,  as  to  his  niece.  The  fellow  is 
there  all  the  time — morning,  afternoon  and  night." 

"  And  you  would  change  places  with  him !  "  said 
Maynadier,  with  a  laugh. 

"  I  would,"  Herf ord  answered,  promptly,  ( and 
Maynadier  liked  him  for  it)  "  but  that  is  not  my 
reason.  Were  he  one  whom  we  knew — one  of  the 
men  of  Maryland — Miss  Stirling  might  favor  him, 
and  I  have  no  fault  to  find.  But  this  is  different. 
An  Englishman,  with  a  title,  and  unsavory  ante 
cedents  will  bear  the  closest  watching." 

"  Give  yourself  no  concern,  Herford,"  said  May 
nadier.  "  If  ever  there  was  a  girl  capable  of 
taking  care  of  herself,  and,  at  the  same  time,  get 
ting  the  most  out  of  life  and  its  opportunities,  it  is 
Miss  Stirling.  There  is  no  chance  of  her  head  being 
turned  by  Sir  Edward  Parkington's  attentions. 
She  knows  his  world  and  his  likes,  and  will  give 
to  his  conduct  the  value  it  deserves." 

"  I  wish  I  could  think  so,"  said  Herford. 

"  Look  here,  Captain !  I  do  not  usually  meddle 
in  affairs  which  do  not  concern  me,  but  your  trouble 
is  jealousy — plain  jealousy.  It  is  all  you  have 
against  Sir  Edward.  He  happens  to  be  fascinat 
ing,  and  good  looking,  and  an  English  Baronet — 
and,  of  course,  Miss  Stirling  is  pleased,  (and  so 
is  Miss  Marbury,  though  she  is  only  an  incident, 
with  you)  and  is  apt  to  monopolize  all  the  atten 
tions  he  will  give  her — as  any  other  girl  would  do. 
He  will  not  be  here  very  long,  and  you  will  have 


MAYNADIER'S  DREAM  185 

your  chance  after  he  leaves.  I  do  not  imagine,  for 
a  moment,  that  Miss  Stirling  is  really  interested, 
any  more  than  she  is  interested  in  you,  or  Paca, 
or  Constable,  or  a  dozen  others.  They  would  all 
marry  her,  too,  if  they  could;  but  they  are  not 
imagining  all  sorts  of  things  about  Parkington 
just  because  he  has  the  call,  for  the  present,  with 
Miss  Stirling.  No,  no!  Herford;  you  are  jealous 
— and  there  lies  the  whole  trouble.  Get  rid  of  it, 
man,  get  rid  of  it ! " 

He  raised  his  tones  a  trifle  at  the  close. 

"  Get  rid  of  what,  Dick?  "  called  Miss  Marbury's 
voice  behind  them.  She  was  with  Sir  Edward  Park 
ington,  and  had  approached  unnoticed. 

"Ah!  listening  were  you?  "  said  Maynadier. 

"  Listening,  indeed !  You  disturbed  us  with  your 
noise — you  fairly  dinned  it  in  our  ears." 

"And  just  enough  to  make  you  wish  for  more! 
Oh,  no,  Miss  Inquisitive,  we  will  keep  the  secret  to 
ourselves." 

"Then,  it  is  a  secret?" 

"  A  great  secret — oh,  very  great !  "  said  Mayna 
dier,  with  assumed  gravity.  "  Herford  has  the 
doldrums." 

"  And  you  were  walking  him  up  and  down  the 
avenue  to  help  him  get  rid  of  them  ?  "  she  mocked. 
"  Oh,  kind  Mr.  Maynadier !  I  fear,  Captain  Her 
ford  is  weary  of  our  hospitality." 

"  Your  fears  are  groundless,  mademoiselle,"  said 


186  THE  IMPOSTOR 

Herf ord,  with  a  bow ;  "  the  doldrums  fled  at  the 
sound  of  your  voice." 

"  Then,  you  know  how  to  banish  them  in  future," 
she  replied. 

"  I  would  not  impose " 

"  It  is  the  hostess'  duty  to  serve  to  her  guests — 
and  her  pleasure  as  well,  sir." 

"  And  may  I — now "  extending  his  arm. 

"  The  doldrums  fled  at  the  sound  of  my  voice, 
I  thought  you  said?  " 

"  But  they  may  return — whereas,  to  effect  a 
permanent  cure,  Miss  Marbury,  I  would  prescribe 
a  walk  in  the  moonlight. — Sir  Edward  will  excuse 
you,  I  know." 

She  turned  to  Parkington.  It  was  as  well  to 
leave  him,  now — she  had  done  enough,  for  one 
evening. 

"  It  shall  be  as  mademoiselle  wishes,"  said  he. 

She  laid  her  hand  on  Herford's  arm. 

"  For  a  little  while,  then,  Captain  Herford,  you 
may  try  the  cure !  "  she  laughed,  and  they  moved 
away. 

"  I  wonder  whether  she  was  tired  of  me,  or 
whether  she  thought  you  were  tired  of  the  Cap 
tain  ?  "  said  Parkington. 

"  A  little  of  both,  doubtless !  "  replied  Maynadier 
— and  when  Sir  Edward  looked  at  him  quizzically, 
he  added,  "  But  it  is,  mainly,  the  butterfly,  which 
every  woman  has,  in  some  degree,  in  her  nature." 


MAYNADIER'S  DREAM  187 

"  And  a  man  has  in  a  great  degree.  Talk  about 
variety — we  men  are  the  bigger  butterfly  of  the  two. 
However,  it  served  as  a  salve  for  my  hurt  feelings !  " 

"  Were  they  hurt  ?  "  asked  Maynadier,  amused. 

"  What  would  yours  be,  if  Captain  Herford  were 
preferred  to  you?  "  laughing. 

And  Maynadier  joined  in  the  laugh. 

"  He  is  a  queer  fellow,"  Parkington  went  on. 
"  It  is  not  exactly  ill-nature ;  it  is  more  of  a  dis 
position  to  quarrel  with  everything — of  never  being 
suited.  In  short,  a  chronic  grumbler.  He  came 
out  to  me,  the  other  morning,  with  the  well  devel 
oped  intention  of  picking  a  quarrel — we  would  have 
been  scraping  rapiers,  in  a  minute,  if  I  had  wished. 
Instead,  I  simply  ignored  his  manner,  and  laughed 
him  into  a  decent  humor.  Has  he  such  a  way  with 
every  one?  " 

"  Yes — we  understand  him,  and  do  not  mind. 
He  is  a  good  fellow,  when  you  get  past  his  eccen 
tricities." 

"  But  one  cannot  be  always  side-stepping,"  said 
Parkington.  "  Some  time,  he  will  run  against  a 
man  with  similar  tendencies — and  then,  there  will 
be  a  little  blood-letting,  may  be,  a  death." 

"  You  see,  in  your  case,"  said  Maynadier,  "  you 
have  touched  him  on  the  raw.  Miss  Stirling  is  a 
tender  point  with  him." 

Parkington  smiled.  "  Which  made  me  all  the 
more  careful  to  avoid  trouble. — He  is  a  good  officer, 
I  am  told." 


188  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  A  very  good  one — he  went  out  with  Forbes 
against  Fort  Duquesne,  and  made  an  enviable  rec 
ord.  Now,  his  duties  are  merely  nominal; — he  is 
attached  to  his  Excellency's  staff." 

Parkington  nodded.  "  Well,  I  will  try  to  keep 
on  side-stepping.  Only,  what  one  overlooks  when 
alone,  one  cannot  let  slip  in  a  crowd.  I  am  quite 
willing  to  do  anything  that  will  not  compromise 
me." 

Miss  Marbury's  laughter  had  floated  to  them, 
at  intervals ;  now,  she  and  Herford  came  slowly  into 
view. 

"  Waiting?  "  she  asked—"  for  what?  " 

"  For  you  to  change  escorts,"  said  Maynadier. 
"  It  is  my  turn,  now." 

Herford  was  perfectly  willing  to  yield  to  Mayna 
dier.  His  sole  purpose  had  been  to  take  Judith 
from  the  Englishman,  and,  that  effected,  he  was 
ready  to  retire.  He  stepped  back,  and  bowed  him 
self  away. 

"  You  have  accomplished  wonders,  Miss  Mar- 
bury,"  he  said.  "  The  doldrums  have  completely 
vanished.  I  trust  you  may  be  as  successful  with 
Mr.  Maynadier." 

"  Mr.  Maynadier  never  gets  the  doldrums,"  she 
answered,  over  her  shoulder.  "  He  is  far  too 
serious  minded ! " 

"  Which  might  mean,  that  I  am  a  bore,"  said 
Maynadier. 


MAYNADIER'S  DREAM  189 

"  Fishing,  monsieur?  " 

"  No." 

"What  do  you  call  it,  then?" 

"  What  do  you  call  it  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Now,  Dick,  you  want  me  to  say  you  are  the 
most  entertaining  man  in  the  world." 

"  Not  unless  you  think  so." 

"  You  know  you  are  conceited,  dreadfully  con 
ceited." 

"  No  one  ever  told  me  so." 

"  No  one  ever  took  the  trouble  to  tell  you." 

"  Except  you." 

"  And  that  is  because  I  like  you  so  well." 

"  Whom  the  Lord  loveth  He  chasteneth !  "  he 
soliloquized. 

"  What?  " 

"  I  said,  whom  the  Lord  loveth  He  chasteneth." 

"  I  should  like  to  see  the  Lord,  or  any  one  else, 
chastening  you !  " 

"My  dear  Judith!" 

"  Does  that  shock  you  ?  " 

"  A  trifle.  You  handle  the  Lord  rather  uncere 
moniously." 

"  Not  any  more  unceremoniously  than  you  men 
do,  when  we  women  are  not  present." 

He  laughed  indulgently,  bending  down  over  her. 

"  Do  you  know,"  said  he,  "  that  you  have  a 
peculiarly  fetching  way  with  you  this  evening?  " 

"  I  always  have  had  it,"  she  answered,  with  a 


190  THE  IMPOSTOR 

fling  of  the  head,  "  but  you  have  never  noticed  it." 

"  I  have  been  blind,"  he  said. 

"  Yes,  you  have  been  blind,"  she  agreed,  with  a 
quick  glance  upward. 

"  Henceforth,  my  eyes  are  open." 

"  Such  is  the  result  of  walking  in  the  moonlight, 
Dick.  Oh,  you  will  improve,  in  time! — give  the 
moonlight  a  chance." 

"  It  requires  more  than  the  moonlight,"  he 
declared. 

"  Of  course — a  pretty  girl  is  essential,  too." 

"  And  it  requires  more  than  a  pretty  girl." 

"  No,  the  moon  and  the  girl  are  sufficient." 

"  Does  not  inclination  play  a  part?  " 

"  It  is  resultant  of  the  other  two." 

"  But  in  varying  degrees." 

"  Oh,  yes !  "  she  said. — "  For  instance,  you  are 
more  earnest  to-night  than  you  used  to  be — though, 
in  truth,  sir,  I  never  before  knew  you  to  take  the 
two  necessary  ingredients  in  one  dose." 

"  The  girl  and  the  moonlight,  you  mean  ?  " 

She  nodded,  smiling  naively. 

"  That  is  because  they  were  never  offered 
me " 

"  Offered  you  !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  Do  you  expect 
them  to  be  offered?  " 

"  Again  I  have  expressed  myself  poorly ! "  he 
laughed.  "  What  I  mean  is,  I  never  had  the  moon 
light,  and  the  inclination,  and  you  all  together." 


MAYNADIER'S  DREAM  191 

"  I  cannot  answer  for  the  inclination,"  she  re 
plied,  "  but  as  you  have  the  moonlight  and  me,  for 
the  last  four  years,  I  may  be  pardoned  if  I  doubt 
it." 

"  But  do  you  doubt  it?  "  he  insisted. 

"  Certainly,  I  doubt  it ! — what  woman  would 
not?" 

"  No  man  would,  if  he  could  see  you,  now." 

"  Fol-de-rol !  "  she  laughed,  and  snapped  her 
fingers  in  his  face.  "  Am  I  different  from  what 
I  was  last  week,  or  last  month,  or  last  year?  " 

"  No,  you  are  not,"  said  he.  "  I  recognize  it, 
now.  Alas !  that  I  did  not  recognize  it  sooner." 

"  And  you  expect  me  to  believe?  "  she  mocked — 
though  her  eyes  belied  her  tones,  had  she  but  let 
him  see  them. 

"  No !  all  I  can  ask  is  that  you  be  merciful." 

"Do  you  even  expect  mercy?" 

"  After  a  time — when  you  have  revenged  your 
self  sufficiently." 

"  Revenged  myself !  "  she  quoted.  "  For  what, 
pray?" 

"  For  my  blindness " 

She  laughed,  a  light,  alluring  laugh.  "  Revenge 
is  for  a  wrong  done. — You  have  not  wronged  me. 
You  have  always  been  my  good  friend — the  best 
friend  a  woman  ever  had." 

He  moved  to  catch  her;  she  eluded  him  and 
sprang  away,  out  of  distance. 


192  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  Fie !  Mr.  Maynadier,  you  forget  the  dignity 
due  a  Governor's  Councillor." 

"  I  am  apt  to  forget  many  things,"  said  he, 
laughing,  "  with  such  a  teasing  beauty  just  out 
of  reach." 

"  Where  she  will  take  care  to  hold  herself  until 
you  are  better  mannered.  What  has  come  over 
you,  Dick,  you  used  to  be  proper  enough — too 
proper,  indeed." 

"  You  little  flirt !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  what  has  come 
over  you,  you  better  say — where  did  you  learn  such 
tricks?" 

"  Not  from  you,  sir." 

"  No,  not  from  me — God  save  the  mark !  " 

"  But  you  seem  to  like  them,  Dick,"  she  said. 
"  Don't  you  wish  it  had  been  you  who  taught  me  ?  " 

"  No ! "  he  said.  "  No ;  I  would  rather  you 
taught  me" 

"  I  am  afraid  you  could  never  learn ! "  she 
laughed. 

"  Try  me !  "  he  begged.  "  I  have  unsuspected 
possibilities." 

She  looked  at  him  with  eyes  half  closed,  a  roguish, 
enticing  look. 

"  And  you  think  I  could  develop  them? "  she 
asked. 

"  I  am  sure  you  could." 

"  Better  let  Miss  Stirling  try — she  can  teach 
you  far  better  than  I. — Besides,  I  think  she  would 
welcome  the  opportunity." 


MAYNADIER'S  DREAM  193 

"  Miss  Stirling  has  enough  to  do  with  the  young 
men,"  he  answered. 

"  I  fancy  you  will  find  her  very  willing  to  take 
another." 

"  Where  there  are  so  many  pupils,  the  instruction 
can  not  be  thorough,"  he  objected. 

"  Have  you  ever  heard  of  the  favorite  pupil, 
sir?  "  she  asked,  with  a  sly  smile.  "  Indeed,  I  am 
very  much  of  the  opinion  she  would  even  drop 
all  the  others,  if  you  applied." 

"  You  flatter  me !  "  he  remarked. 

"  Do  I  ?  "  she  asked,  "  well,  I  am  not  so  sure ; 
you  see,  she  does  not  know  you  quite  so  well  as  some 
others  do.  And,  if  you  are  clever,  she  may  never 
find  you  out." 

"  Lucky  me ! — You  advise  me,  then,  to  take  les 
sons  from  Miss  Stirling?  " 

"  Undoubtedly !  You  are  ripe  for  it,  and  she  is 
a  rare  instructor — it  will  be  an  admirable  arrange 
ment." 

"  And  when  I  have  learned  everything  that  she 
can  teach  me,  may  I  come  back  to  you  for  the  com 
pletion  of  my  education  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  May  be  you  will  not  want  to  come  back,"  she 
said. 

"  But,  if  I  do,"  he  persisted. 

"  And,  may  be,  I  shall  have  too  many  pupils, 
then,  to  bother  with  another." 

"  But,  if  you  have  not — if  there  is  room  for  me  ?  " 

"  I  cannot  answer,  now.  Wait  until  you  apply, 
13 


194  THE  IMPOSTOR 

it  will  depend  on  what  you  have  been  taught,  and 
the  extent  of  your  proficiency?  " 

He  thought  a  moment.  "  The  extent  of  my  pro 
ficiency  ?  "  he  repeated.  "  Should  it  be  much  or 
little?" 

"  That  is  for  you  to  judge,"  she  answered, 
enigmatically — and  left  him. 

"  That  is  for  me  to  judge !  "  he  muttered,  looking 
after  her.  "  Did  she  mean  to  warn  me  against 
learning  too  much  from  Miss  Stirling?  Did  she 
mean  to  warn  me  against  learning  anything  from 
her?  "  He  smiled: — "  Is  she  just  a  bit  jealous  of 
Miss  Stirling,  and  has  her  jealousy  quickened  her 
perceptions?  ....  My  little  Judith,  have  you 
cared  for  me — really,  cared  for  me — all  these  years? 
— And  have  I  been  blind  to  the  character  of  your 
affection,  and  blind  to  my  own,  as  well?  " 

He  turned  aside  into  the  park,  where  the  great 
trees  were  whispering,  softly,  to  one  another,  and  all 
else  was  still. 

Yes,  he  loved  her!  Not  as  the  old  friend,  who 
had  advised,  and  guided,  and  reproved.  Not  as  he 
thought  the  man  of  steady  life  and  confirmed  habits, 
with  wealth  and  reputation  made,  would  love.  Still 
more,  not  in  the  seemly  manner  a  Governor's  Coun 
cillor  should  love — but  with  a  sudden  rush  of  affec 
tion,  that  threatened  to  sweep  away  all  the  reserve 
and  dignity  of  forty  years.  A  love  such  as  Paca, 
or  Constable  might  have. 


MAYNADIER'S  DREAM  195 

He  steadied  himself.  He  might  love  as  a  young 
man,  but  he  must  act  with  the  judgment  and  dis 
cretion  of  his  years — sedately  and  with  good  sense. 
He  thought  she  loved  him — thought  she  had  shown 
it  with  all  the  openness  she  dared.  But  he  was 
not  sure.  He  might  have  been  mistaken — he  might 
have  tinctured  her  words  with  his  own  hope — read 
in  them  far  more  than  they  conveyed,  far  more 
than  a  younger  man  would  have  dared  to  read. 
....  Moreover,  even  if  he  had  read  aright,  he 
must  not  permit  his  love  to  overbalance  his  duty. 
He  must  be  the  protector  still ;  must  guard  her  from 
all  danger  of  a  hasty  choice,  from  a  semblance  which 
she  mistook  for  the  reality.  Must  put  her  happi 
ness  first,  his  own,  only  if  it  chimed  with  hers. 
....  She  was  a  dear  girl — a  dear  girl !  She 
would  preside  at  Rose  Hill  in  a  manner  in  keeping 
with  the  mistresses  who  had  preceded :  his  own  sweet 
mother,  his  grandsire's  stately  wife.  She  would 
restore  the  life  which  had  been  of  it,  until  he  had 
become  master,  and  let  the  old  life  die.  He  would 
go  home,  and  prepare  for  her  coming — prepare  to 
live!  .... 

Suddenly,  he  shook  himself,  as  one  awakening 
from  a  dream. 

God!  what  if  she  would  not  come — what  if  she 
married  another!  .  .  . 


XIII 

THE    CAMPAIGNS 

THE  following  morning,  the  party  had  just 
finished  breakfast,  and  were  clustered  about  in 
front  of  the  house,  when  Captain  Jamison  came 
hurriedly  up  the  avenue. 

Old  Marbury,  with  his  foot  in  the  stirrup,  had 
paused  for  a  moment's  conversation  with  Mr.  Plater 
and  Parkington,  and  he  regarded  the  approaching 
skipper  with  some  surprise. 

"What  does  this  mean,  Jamison?"  he  asked, 
"  I  thought  you  would  be  well  on  the  way  to 
Annapolis,  by  this  time." 

"  So  did  I,  sir,"  was  the  answer.  "  Such  were 
your  orders — but  you  can't  never  tell  what  will 
happen.  The  truth  is,  sir,  Long-Sword  has 
escaped ! " 

"Escaped!  How? — when?"  Marbury  de 
manded. 

The  skipper  was  plainly  much  embarrassed — he 
twirled  his  cap  between  his  fingers,  shuffled  his  feet, 
and  his  glance  wandered  skyward. 

"  I  don't  know,  sir — it  was  sometime  between 
dark  and  daylight.  He  was  in  the  cabin,  tight 
enough,  with  the  irons  fast  on  him,  when  night  fell 
— he  was  gone,  this  morning." 

"With  the  irons  fast  to  him?  " 

196 


THE  CAMPAIGNS  197 

"  No,  sir,  with  the  irons  off  him,  sir,  lying  on  his 
bunk — and  as  securely  locked  as  when  they  were 
on  him.  How  did  he  get  out  of  them,  sir,  how  did 
he  get  out  of  them?  " 

Marbury  shook  his  head.  "  If  you  cannot  tell, 
I  am  sure  I  cannot." 

"  Possibly  he  found  the  key  you  lost,"  observed 
Parkington. 

"  I  did  not  lose  it  in  his  cabin,  sir,"  said  Jamison ; 
"  it  was  found  at  the  foot  of  the  companionway. 
I  picked  it  up  there,  myself." 

Parkington  nodded.  It  was  clever  of  Brandon 
to  lock  the  irons  and  leave  the  key  where  it  likely 
would  be  found. 

"  Then  he  must  be  small-boned  and  small-jointed. 
I  have  heard  of  men  who  could  slip  the  irons  in  that 
way,"  remarked  Plater. 

"  I  think  not — they  seemed  to  fit  him  very  close — 
in  fact,  he  complained  of  them  pinching  him." 

"  Like  enough !  "  laughed  Plater.  "  Another 
proof  that  they  were  loose." 

"  Where  was  the  guard — asleep?  "  asked  Mar- 
bury. 

"  No,  not  asleep — dead !  dead !  with  his  own  knife 
buried  in  his  breast." 

"  When  did  you  discover  that  Long-Sword  was 
missing?  " 

"  A  little  after  day-break.  I  sent  every  man 
ashore  on  the  search.  I  did  not  come  here,  until  it 
was  proved  he  had  escaped." 


198  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  How  did  he  get  ashore?  " 

"  Swam  for  it." 

"  Hum !  pretty  fair  for  a  broken  collar-bone ! " 
Marbury  remarked. 

"  He  is  a  dangerous  man,  sir." 

"  Naturally — otherwise  he  would  not  be  a  pirate 
chief." 

"  He  must  be  taken ! "  protested  the  skipper. 
"  We  must  catch  him !  " 

"  Yes — we,  or  some  one  else,  must  catch  him — 
and,  as  he  seems  to  have  got  away  from  the  vicinity, 
it  will  probably  be  some  one  else,"  Parkington 
observed. 

"  So  you  likely  will  not  retire  on  your  reward, 
Jamison,"  Marbury  observed ;  "  another  will  get  the 

thousand  guineas Why  did  you  not  notify 

us,  at  once?  " 

"  Because,  I  hoped  to  catch  him,  sir." 

"  And  not  be  obliged  to  tell  me  he  had  escaped — • 
I  see." 

"  It  is  only  human  nature,"  said  Parkington. 
"  Let  me  intercede  for  Jamison." 

"  It  is  not  necessary ;  I  reckon  I  would  have  done 
the  same  had  our  positions  been  reversed.  More 
over,  I  am  not  much  grieved  over  it.  Long-Sword 
is  a  very  decent  sort  of  man — too  decent  to  stretch 
a  halter." 

"  You  will  do  nothing,  sir,  to  apprehend  him?  " 
gasped  Jamison. 

"  Nothing !  "  said  Marbury. 


THE  CAMPAIGNS  199 

"And  the  seaman  he  killed,  in  cold  blood?" 

"  Was  the  man  married  ? — Yes  ?  Then  I  shall 
give  his  widow  a  year's  pay.  For  my  part,  I  have 
had  enough  of  pirates,  and  I  do  not  propose  to  dis 
turb  this  house  party,  especially  the  women  folk, 
by  hunting  one  who  is  trying  his  best  to  get  away. 
You  are  at  liberty,  with  your  crew,  to  continue  the 
search,  provided  it  does  not  conflict  with  your 
orders.  But  Hedgely  Hall  is  done  with  the  bucca 
neering  business — and,  please  God !  it  be  done  with 
her.  Gentlemen,  I  must  to  the  fields,"  and,  with 
a  curt  nod,  he  was  up  in  saddle  and  away. 

"What  are  you  going  to  do,  Jamison?"  said 
Parkington. 

"  Do,  sir !  what  can  I  do  ?  Follow  down  the 
coast,  and  raise  the  hue  and  cry — and,  likely,  find 
he  has  gone  Northward !  Devil's  Ship !  but  it's  a 
bad  business." 

"  The  pirate  business  is  generally  bad — in  the 
end,"  remarked  Parkington. 

"  If  you  do  not  catch  Long-Sword,  the  chances 
are  that  some  one  else  will,"  sympathized  Plater. 

"  Yes,  and  get  the  reward,"  said  Jamison. — "  I 
cannot  claim  the  thousand  guineas,  unless  I  deliver 
him  to  the  authorities." 

"  Then,  it  is  the  reward  and  not  the  pirate  you 
are  after?  " 

"  It  is  the  pirate  because  of  the  reward. — I 
would  not  turn  a  hand  to  take  him,  otherwise." 


200  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"Well,  you. better  be  up  and  doing,  or  you  will 
not  have  any  chance  of  taking  him,"  said  Parking- 
ton.  "  If  I  can  aid  you,  in  any  way,  pray,  com 
mand  me.  I  rather  fancy  chasing  a  pirate  on  land 
— it  is  a  novel  experience." 

"  I'm  off,  sir ! — I'm  going  down  the  coast ;  may 
be,  I  can  pick  him  up.  He  will  likely  make  for  one 
of  the  Virginia  ports.  Thank  you,  sir,  for  your 
offer  of  assistance." 

"  He  will  never  take  him,"  said  Plater,  looking 
after  Jamison.  "  The  fellow  has  not  gone  to  Vir 
ginia,  I  will  wager.  He  will  lie  very  low,  until  his 
injury  is  healed — a  stranger,  with  a  broken  collar 
bone,  is  too  easily  located." 

Parkington  nodded  assent.  "  Marbury's  course 
seemed  to  surprise  Jamison,"  he  said. 

"  Because  Jamison  was  thinking  only  of  the  re 
ward.  I  should  have  done  just  as  Marbury  did; 
he  has  the  pirate  ship,  which,  doubtless,  he  considers 
is  prize  enough.  Jamison  lost  his  prisoner  through 
sheer  carelessness,  and  Marbury  does  not  intend  to 
turn  the  plantation  upside  down  to  help  retake  him. 
Oh,  the  old  man  is  usually  right." 

"  He  seems  to  have  been,  at  least  in  getting 
money." 

"  Yes — after  Carroll  he  is  the  richest  man  in 
Maryland. — You  have  met  young  Carroll." 

Parkington  nodded.  "  He  seemed  a  particularly 
nice  fellow." 


THE  CAMPAIGNS  201 

"  He  is — though  we  scarcely  know  him.  He  has 
been  in  France  since  he  was  eight  years  of  age, 
getting  his  education  under  the  Jesuits,  and,  in 
London,  studying  law  in  the  Temple:  he  returned 
home  only  last  year.  Having  polished  himself,  he 
will  now  spend  the  rest  of  his  life  looking  after 
his  property." 

"  A  pleasant  occupation — when  one  has  sufficient 
to  look  after." 

"  And  at  which  only  about  half  of  us  are  even 
moderately  successful.  If  I  can  retain  my  own, 
and  my  wife's,  I  shall  be  more  than  thankful.  As 
for  Marbury  " — he  ended  with  a  gesture. 

"  Which  means  ?  "  said  Parkington. 

Plater  laughed.  "  That  is  what  I  do  not  know. 
He  has  two  children — you  have  seen  them,  what  is 
your  estimate?  " 

"  I  have  not  seen  enough  to  form  an  estimate, 
but  I  should  say  young  Mr.  Marbury  shows  excel 
lent  promise." 

"  Only  promise !  Exactly,  Sir  Edward ;  but  he 
should  show  more  than  promise.  He  is  a  charming 
young  man,  but  can  he  hold  together  the  Marbury 
fortune.  I  admit  that  I  and  all  the  others  are 
undecided.  As  for  Miss  Marbury " 

"  It  will  depend  upon  the  man  she  marries,"  said 
Parkington. 

"  And  the  fortune  will  be  much  less  than  George's. 
The  bulk  always  goes  to  the  heir,  if  he  be  of  direct 


202  THE  IMPOSTOR 

blood,  the  same  as  in  England,  though  there  is  no 
entail." 

"  Who  are  Miss  Marbury's  suitors,"  asked  Park- 
ington,  carelessly.  "  No  one  of  the  men,  here, 
seems  to  be,  and,  yet,  of  course,  she  has  them 
in  plenty." 

"  She  could  have  them  in  plenty,  but  she  will  not. 
Every  young  fellow  in  Annapolis  would  have  been 
only  too  happy — but,  nay.  They  can  be  as 
friendly  as  they  please;  the  instant  they  would  be 
more,  she  is  up  and  away." 

"  The  right  man  has  not  come,"  said  Parkington. 

"  Possibly,  not ! — But  where  can  you  find  a  better 
man  than  Paca,  or  Constable,  or  Jennings,  or  any 
one  of  the  young  bloods  you  meet  at  the  Coffee 
house?  " 

"  I  do  not  know — no  one  knows — possibly,  even 
she  does  not  know.  But  she  will  know,  when  the 
right  one  comes — that  is,  the  right  one  for  the  time. 
He  may  be  the  wrong  one  in  six  months — more's 
the  pity. — Yet  even  she  cannot  foresee  that." 

"  You  are  a  bit  cynical ! "  laughed  Plater. 
"  May  be  they  are  the  ways  of  England,  but  they 
are  not  our  ways." 

"  Not  your  ways,  yet"  Parkington  amended. 

"  And,  I  trust,  never  will  be.  When  a  woman 
chooses  a  husband,  with  us,  whether  for  love  or 
policy — though,  thank  God!  there  is  not  much  of 
the  latter — she  makes  the  best  of  it.  And  it  is 


THE  CAMPAIGNS  203 

marvelous  what  you  can  do,  if  you  settle  yourself 
to  it." 

"  I  grant  you  that,"  said  Parkington ;  "  but  the 
trouble  with  us  seems  to  be,  that,  as  the  country 
grows  broader  in  civilization,  it  loses  in  morals. — 
You  are  headed  the  same  way ;  it  is  only  a  question 
of  a  little  time  until  you  are  up  with  us." 

"  Do  you  mean  it  will  come  in  my  day  ? — that  I 
shall  see  it?  " 

"  Yes,  I  do — you  colonists  are  learning  fast. 
Witness,  the  Stamp  Act,  and  so  on.  You  are  grow 
ing  powerful,  and  with  power  comes  laxity.  But, 
we  diverge — we  were  discussing  our  hostess; 
scarcely,  the  best-bred  thing  to  do,  but  excusable 
under  the  circumstances.  Has  she  never  been  in 
love — since  she  came  to  Annapolis,  I  mean  ?  " 

"  I  think  not,  said  Plater ;  "  at  least,  there 
never  has  been  any  indication  of  it.  The  one 
man  she  seems  to  like  at  all  times,  is  Richard  May- 
nadier — and  he  is  almost  old  enough  to  be  her 
father.  He  never  has  attempted  to  grow  senti 
mental.  He  could  not,  if  he  wanted  to.  Mayna- 
dier  and  sentiment  are  strangers  to  each  other." 

( "  A  word  to  the  wise !  "  thought  Parkington. 
"  I  must  have  a  care,  I  see,  for  Mr.  Richard  Mayna- 
dier.  No  sentiment?  Why,  the  man  is  full  of  it, 
or  I  observed  him  very  poorly,  last  night.")  What 
he  said  was :  "  Sometimes  it  is  the  slow  hound  that 
catches  the  fox,  you  know." 

"  Meaning  Maynadier?  "  laughed  Plater. 


204.  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  No  one  else  is  eligible,  you  say." 

"  I  did  not  say  he  was  eligible." 

"  But  he  is  the  only  one  who  is  given  an  oppor 
tunity — consequently,  he  must  have  a  chance,  if  he 
care  to  take  it." 

"  Pooh !  He  would  be  sent  about  his  business 
as  quickly  as  the  next  one,  if  he  got  sentimental. 
He  is  the  fidus  achates — he  does  not  want  to  be 
more." 

"  I  see — well,  it  is  a  rare  man  who  can  be  fidus 
achates  to  a  handsome  woman,  without  wishing  to 
be  more." 

"  Still  the  cynic?  "  laughed  Plater. 

"  Very  much ! — it  is  against  human  nature." 

A  little  later,  Parkington  chanced  upon  Miss 
Marbury  near  the  sun-dial,  in  the  garden. 

"  I  hear  that  Long-Sword  has  escaped,"  she  said, 
"  and  that  father  refused  to  permit  a  search  for 
him,  is  it  true?  " 

"  Yes — he  said  he  was  not  going  to  have  your 
house-party  disturbed  by  chasing  a  pirate,  who 
was  trying  his  best  to  get  away — that  he  has  had 
enough  of  pirates." 

"How  like  father!" 

"  Your  father  is  a  very  sensible  man." 

She  gave  him  an  appreciative  look,  which  was  not 
lost  on  him. 

"  The  way  to  her  good  opinion  is  to  praise  her 
father,"  he  thought,  but  he  did  no  more  of  it, 
then.  Instead,  he  changed  the  subject. 


THE  CAMPAIGNS  205 

"  You  forsook  me  last  evening,"  he  said ;  "  at 
the  very  first  opportunity  you  deserted." 

"  To  the  enemy  ?  I  thought  I  was  being  very 
loyal — Captain  Herford  is  in  his  Majesty's  service, 
you  know." 

"  It  was  not  a  question  of  his  Majesty's  service — 
every  man  is  a  king,  at  such  times." 

"  Pardon !  sire,  pardon  !  "  she  laughed.  "  I  did 
not  recognize  your  kingship." 

"  That  is  just  the  reason  I  am  complaining — 
you  should  have  recognized  it." 

"  What  is  the  penalty  for  treason  ?  "  she  asked. 
"  Do  not  make  it  too  severe,  sire." 

"  The  penalty,  for  this  sort  of  treason,"  he  said, 
— "  and  I  am  making  it  very  easy — is  to  give  me  as 
much  of  your  society,  while  I  am  here,  as  I  have 
the  courage  to  seek." 

"  Have  the  courage  to  seek ! "  she  quoted. 
"  That  may  seem  modest  enough,  but,  for  my  part, 
I  am  of  the  opinion  that  you  are  not  wanting  in 
courage — in  fact " 

"  Yes,"  he  said.     "  In  fact ?  " 

"  In  fact,  you  are  disposed,  if  occasion  offer,  to 
be  a  trifle  intrepid." 

"  I  protest !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  You  have  nothing 
to  justify  any  such  judgment." 

"  Nothing  to  justify,  possibly — much  to 
suspect." 

"  In  what  way,  mademoiselle?  " 


206  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  In  the  cast  of  the  eye,  monsieur — and  the  tilt 
of  the  head — and  in  other  indefinable  ways,  appreci 
ated  by  sight  alone." 

"  I  suppose,  I  should  be  flattered  that  you  have 
observed  me  so  closely !  "  he  laughed.  "  I  did  not 
know  I  was  so  dangerous." 

"  I  should  call  it  fascinating,"  she  answered. 

He  bent  and  kissed  her  hand,  in  the  most  courtly 
way. 

"  I  would  it  were  your  lips,"  he  said. 

"  Which  only  proves  my  proposition — and,  pos 
sibly  your  own.  You  may  be  dangerous,  as  well  as 
fascinating,"  she  replied.  "  Perchance,  here  is  one 
who  can  tell  better  than  I — she  knows  more  of  the 
world  and  the  ways  of  men.  Miss  Stirling,  is  Sir 
Edward  dangerous  as  well  as  fascinating,  or,  sim 
ply,  fascinating?  "  and,  with  a  gay  laugh,  she  left 
them. 

For  a  moment,  Miss  Stirling  looked  after  her 
with  a  puzzled  air ;  then,  she  turned  to  Sir  Edward. 

"  What  have  you  been  doing?  "  she  asked. 

"  Nothing,"  he  replied. 

She  smiled.  "  Nothing?  and  yet  she  leaves  me 
such  a  question  ?  " 

"  Which  you  can  answer?  "  he  asked. 

"  The  answer  is  evident  enough.  Are  you  not 
ashamed,  sir,  to  play  your  fine  manners  against  the 
innocent  ?  " 

"  By  the  innocent,  I  assume,  you  mean  Miss 
Marbury  ?  " 


THE  CAMPAIGNS  207 

"Certainly." 

"  Then,  let  me  answer  you,  that  Miss  Marbury 
is  as  amply  able  to  take  care  of  herself,  as — you 
are,"  replied  Parkington,  with  a  smile. 

"  Which  is  very  little,"  she  answered ;  "  for  I 
admit  /  am  afraid  of  you.  You  have  beautiful 
manners,  Sir  Edward." 

"  But  not  to  be  compared  to  yours,"  he  replied, 
bowing. 

"  And  you  say  everything  as  though  you  meant 
it." 

"  Which  makes  for  sincerity." 

"  But  you  do  not  mean  it — or  very  little  of  it." 

"  Which  allows  you  to  choose  what  you  want, 
and  to  discard  the  rest." 

"  And  you  dress  in  especially  good  taste,"  she 
went  on. 

"  Which  speaks  well  for  my  tailor." 

"  And  you  are,  in  yourself,  exceedingly  hand 
some." 

"  Which  speaks  well  for  God." 

"  Or  the  Devil,"  she  amended. 

"  As  you  wish ! "  he  said,  laughingly,  and  kissed 
her  hand. 

"  It  is  always, '  as  you  wish,'  whereas,  in  truth,  it 
is  '  as  I  wish,'  when  the  play  is  done." 

"The  play?  "he  asked. 

"  Yes,  the  play — everything  which  makes  for 
your  pleasure  or  profit.  And  you  do  it  so  grace 
fully,  with  such  a  flourish  of  indifference,  that  the 


208  THE  IMPOSTOR 

other  party  actually  thinks  a  favor  is  conferred  in 
the  granting  it." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  imply  that  I  have  done  the 
*  play  '  in  Maryland  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Certainly ! — you  do  '  the  play  '  wherever  you 
are — you  could  not  do  otherwise.  It  is  as  much  a 

part  of  your  nature  as "  she  paused  for  a 

comparison. 

"  As  it  is  of  yours,"  he  ended. 

"  If  I  can  do  it  half  so  well,  I  shall  be  more  than 
pleased,"  she  answered,  promptly. 

"You  accept  it,  then?" 

"  My  dear  Sir  Edward !  "  she  laughed.  "  We  all 
have  something  of  the  mountebank  in  our  natures. 
He  plays  it  best,  who  plays  it  the  most,  and  shows 
it  the  least." 

"  Fine  philosophy !  "  he  commented.  "  Such 
cynicism  may  be  permissible  in  a  man,  but  it  is 
not,  many  times  not,  in  a  woman." 

"  The  men  seem  to  like  it,"  she  answered. 

He  shook  his  head.  "  They  like  you — they  have 
not  seen  the  cynicism." 

"And  if  they  do  see  it?" 

He  raised  his  eye-brows,  expressively.  "  I  do 
not  know — perhaps,  and  perhaps  not." 

"With  the  chances?" 

"  Not,  decidedly  not !  " 

"  I  take  you  for  an  adept,"  she  said — "  as  one 
well  qualified  to  advise  on  the  subject." 


THE  CAMPAIGNS  209 

"  Then,  abandon  it — throw  it  overboard.  A  wo 
man  should  be  an  optimist — cynicism  repels." 

"  Yet  you  are  a  cynic." 

"  All  men  are  cynical ;  they  must  be  to  get  on  with 
one  another — and  with  the  women." 

"  Another  burden  for  us  to  bear !  "  she  laughed. 
"  Is  Miss  Marbury  a  cynic  or  an  optimist?  " 

"  I  should  judge  her  to  be  very  much  the  opti 
mist." 

"  And  hence  the  easier  to  understand,  and  the 
easier  to  hoodwink." 

He  looked  at  her,  with  a  bit  of  a  smile.  "  And 
for  just  that  reason,  less  liable  to  be  hoodwinked. 
Sincerity  begets  sincerity,  if  the  man  be  really 
a  man." 

"  And  cynicism  begets  cynicism  ?  " 

He   bowed.     "  I    am    speaking    generally,    of 
course." 

She  prodded  the  turf  with  her  toe,  and  thought: 

"  I  suppose  you  are  right,"  she  said ;  "  you  have 
had  the  experience,  you  ought  to  know.  But, 
how  many  of  the  women  you  meet  in  London  are 
optimists,  think  you?  " 

"  Very  few,"  he  smiled. 

"And  why? — why? — Because  you  men  have 
taught  us  to  be  cynics.  You  lie  to  us  in  word  and 
deed,  you  deceive  us,  often  to  our  shame,  until  we 
must  fight  back  with  the  weapons  God  has  given 
us.  Even  now,  you  are  contemplating  a  campaign 
14 


210  THE  IMPOSTOR 

against  Miss  Marbury,  attracted  by  that  very 
optimism  which  should  make  her  an  easy  conquest." 

He  held  up  his  hands  in  protestation.  "  My 
dear  lady !  your  imagination  is  wonderful — you  are 
a  very  child  in  fancy — the  dark  must  be  full  of  queer 
things  to  you." 

She  laughed,  a  little,  tantalizing  laugh,  and  shot 
him  a  knowing  look  from  under  her  long  lashes. 

"  We  shall  see,"  she  said :  "  I  may  be  wrong, 
and,  if  I  am,  you  have  the  proving  of  it." 

"  And,  meanwhile,  what  of  your  campaign  for 
Mr.  Richard  Maynadier?  "  he  asked. 

For  a  moment,  she  did  not  reply,  regarding  him, 
thoughtfully,  the  while. 

"  What  has  Mr.  Richard  Maynadier  to  do  with 
the  proposition  ?  "  she  said,  coldly. 

"  I  do  not  know — it  is  for  you  to  answer." 

"  There  is  no  answer,"  she  replied,  looking  him 
straight  in  the  eyes. 

He  bowed  and  kissed  her  hand. 

"  As  you  wish,  my  lady,"  he  said,  making  no 
effort  to  repress  his  smile ;  "  as  you  wish." 

A  little  later,  he  sought  his  chamber  for  his  walk 
ing-stick.  As  he  came  down  the  corridor,  he  be 
thought  himself  of  something  he  wanted  to  tell  Mr. 
Marbury.  He  went  over  to  the  door  of  his  room 
and  rapped — then,  rapped  again,  more  briskly. 
The  door,  which  had  not  been  latched,  opened  and 
swung  slowly  back.  Marbury  was  not  in,  but  the 


THE  CAMPAIGNS  211 

bags,  containing  the  ransom  money,  were  standing 
on  a  table. 

He  stopped  and,  casually,  glanced  around;  no 
one  was  about.  He  listened;  all  was  quiet  on  the 
second  floor.  He  tiptoed  to  the  stairway  and 
looked  down;  no  one  was  visible  in  the  hall  below. 
He  went  back,  and  stood,  uncertain,  a  moment. 
Then,  he  walked  straight  in  to  Marbury's  room, 
swiftly  untied  the  bags,  took  several  handfuls  of 
gold  from  each,  retied  them,  went  out,  closed  the 
door  behind  him,  and  descended  to  the  party  on  the 
lawn. 

Marbury  would  likely  put  the  money  away  with 
out  inspecting  it — and,  if  he  did  count  it,  the  noble 
Englishman  could  not  be  suspected. 


XIV 

GUILTY    AND    NOT    GUILTY 

RICHARD  MAYNADIER  remained  for  two  days 
longer  at  Hedgely  Hall,  but  he  never  was  able  to 
get  Judith  alone,  however  much  he  manoeuvred. 
After  he  went  home,  he  rode  over  several  times, 
unexpectedly  and  at  unusual  hours,  hoping  to  sur 
prise  her  and  get  his  opportunity,  but  to  no  avail. 

She  was  deliberately  avoiding  him,  he  knew,  and 
she  let  him  know  it,  in  the  unmistakable  waj  of  a 
woman.  It  was  as  though  she  said  to  him :  "  You 
want  to  get  me  off  alone,  Dick,  but  I  shall  not 
permit  it." 

So  much  he  understood.  But  what  troubled  him, 
was  whether  it  stopped  with  that,  or  whether  there 
was  a  qualifying  phrase — an  "  until  I  am  ready," 
tacked  on,  and  not  yet  disclosed. 

He  was  not  unduly  sanguine,  and  he  was  properly 
modest,  but  he  had  thought  it  all  over — her  attitude 
toward  him,  her  belief  in  him,  her  dependence  upon 
his  judgment  and  advice — and  he  considered  he  had 
reasonable  ground  to  hope  that  she  had  come  to 
view  him  in  another  light  than  as  a  friend.  Doubt 
less,  he  had  been  blind  not  to  see  it  before — and 
blind,  as  well,  to  the  character  of  his  own  feelings. 
He  simply  had  never  thought  of  love.  Now,  he 
was  thinking  of  it  a  very  great  deal. 
212 


GUILTY  AND  NOT  GUILTY          213 

was  something,  however,  which  he  did  not 
exactly  fancy,  and  that  was  the  liking  she  seemed 
to  have  developed,  recently,  for  Parkington's  so 
ciety — and  Parkington  for  hers. 

They  were  much  together,  would  take  long  walks 
in  the  park  and  to  the  river,  would  talk  for  hours, 
while  he  told  her  stories  of  London  and  its  great 
world.  Maynadier  did  not  know,  of  course, 
whether  he  ventured  upon  the  softer  side,  whether 
he  tried  to  strike  the  chord  of  self,  in  an  appealing 
way — and  Judith  gave  no  indication.  She  was  en 
joying  herself,  so  much  was  evident,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  playing  her  part,  admirably.  Park 
ington  was  the  stranger,  and,  since  he  seemed  to 
wish  to  devote  himself  to  his  hostess,  and  his  hostess 
was  not  averse,  Maynadier  could  not  find  fault. 

He  had,  indeed,  ventured  to  throw  out  a  caution 
ing  word,  the  evening  he  rode  home,  (when,  just 
for  a  moment,  he  was  alone  with  her)  but  she 
had  only  laughed,  asked  him  if  he  did  not  trust 
her,  and,  quickly,  rejoined  the  company. 

Om  the  last  evening  of  the  house  party,  he  came 
ever  to  bid  them  farewell.  Judith  was  going,  on 
the  morrow,  with  the  Snowdens,  to  spend  a  week  at 
Montpelier.  Sir  Edward  Parkington,  also,  had 
been  invited,  and  was  to  accompany  them — as  were 
Miss  Stirling,  Captain  Herford  and  Mr.  Constable. 
The  rest  were  returning  to  their  homes.  He  him 
self  wai  departing  for  Annapolis,  in  the  morning, 


THE  IMPOSTOR 

upon  business  of  the  Council,  and  his  visit  to 
Hedgely  Hall  was  to  be  but  brief. 

He  encountered  Henry  Marbury,  as  he  came 
through  the  park,  and  they  went,  on  a  little  way, 
together.  When  they  came  in  sight  of  the  house, 
Marbury  stopped. 

"  Maynadier,"  he  said,  "  I  have  something  to 
tell  you — can  you  give  me  a  moment?  " 

"  Certainly,  sir ;  "  said  Maynadier,  "  as  many 
moments  as  you  wish." 

Marbury  considered  a  second,  as  though  framing 
his  words. 

"  It  is  this  way,"  he  said..  "  You  have  heard 
of  the  ransom  money  I  paid  the  pirates.  Well, 
it  was  recovered,  at  the  landing,  by  Captain 
Jamison,  and  turned  over  to  me,  unopened — at 
least,  he  thought  so,  and  my  own  inspection  sus 
tained  him.  I  counted  it,  the  other  morning,  and 
it  was  correct — or,  I  made  it  so.  Just  as  I  finished, 
I  was  called  out,  hastily,  and  I  left  the  bags  on  the 
table.  I  forgot  them,  and  did  not  return  until 
late  in  the  day.  Then,  something  told  me  to  count 
it  again.  I  did — and  found  about  a  hundred 
guineas  missing." 

"  Some  of  the  servants  ?  "  said  Maynadier. 

"  I  think  not — none  of  them  would  venture  to 
enter  my  rooms  even  when  the  door  is  open,  and  it 
was  closed — closed  when  I  left  it,  and  closed  when 
I  returned." 

"  Have  you  no  means  of  identifying  the  coins  ?  " 


GUILTY  AND  NOT  GUILTY          215 

"  None — I  never  make  a  list." 

"  What  do  you  think  ?  "  asked  Maynadier. 

"  I  do  not  know  what  to  think — except,  that  one 
of  the  guests  is  the  pilferer." 

"  Pilferer  ?  "  said  Maynadier.  "  You  are  put 
ting  it  very  mild,  if  the  guilty  one  be  a  guest.  He 
is  a  plain  thief.  I  cannot  believe  it !  It  must  be 
one  of  the  servants." 

"  None  but  the  house  servants  have  access  to  the 
rooms,  and  I  trust  them  thoroughly;  besides,  the 
thief,  to  adopt  your  name,  opened  my  door  unbid 
den,  and  that,  as  I  said,  no  servant  would  have 
ventured.  We  are  remitted  to  a  guest,  sir." 

"  Have  you  any  suspicions  ?  " 

"None,  thank  God!" 

Maynadier  looked  at  him  narrowly.  "  Why  do 
you  say,  *  thank  God ! ' : 

"  Because  I  do  Hot  want  to  suspect.  I  would 
rather  lose  half  my  fortune,  than  that  a  guest,  in 
my  house,  should  be  suspected.  If  I  had  seen  him 
actually  take  the  money,  I  should  do  nothing  to 
apprehend  him — nor  would  I  permit  his  appre 
hension." 

"  Why  do  you  say  '  him ' — why  do  you  think 
the  thief  is  a  man  ?  "  asked  Maynadier. 

"  Because  I  cannot  think  it  a  woman.  My  God ! 
Maynadier,  you  know  these  people  better  than  I — 
could  you  think  one  of  the  women  guilty  ?  " 

Maynadier  shook  his  head.  "  No,  I  cannot;  and 
neither  can  I  think  one  of  the  men  guilty.  But, 


«16  THE  IMPOSTOR 

since  you  will  do  nothing  in  the  matter,  why  think 
about  it  at  all?  The  party  breaks  in  the  morning, 
jou  will  lose  no  more." 

"  It  is  not  the  loss  that  bothers  me — it  is  the 
idea  of  having  entertained  a  thief." 

"  Are  you  quite  sure  your  first  count  was  cor 
rect?  Might  not  the  money  have  been  abstracted, 
by  the  pirate  who  carried  it  away  ?  Is  not  that  the 
normal  explanation  ?  " 

Marbury  was  silent. 

"  Moreover,  were  the  bags  tied  as  you  left 
them?" 

"  Precisely — at  least,  I  saw  no  difference." 

"  And  when  you  detected  the  loss  from  the  first 
bag,  did  not  you  examine  the  tying  of  the  other?  " 

"  I  did." 

"  And  could  you  not  have  noted  any  difference — 
and  evidence  of  haste?  " 

"  There  was  no  difference,  and  no  evidence  of 
haste.  Everything  was  exactly  as  I  left  it,  or  it 
seemed  to  be." 

"  Then  it  lies  between  your  own  error,  a  guest, 
or  a  servant.  With  two  chances  to  one,  in  favor 
of  the  guest,  I  should  acquit  the  guest — and,  par 
ticularly,  when  it  marches  with  your  own  desires." 

Marbury  shook  his  head  dubiously.  "  I  do  not 
want  to  suspect  any  one,  and  I  will  not.  I  would 
not  prosecute  even  if  I  were  sure  of  the  thief;  I 
would  let  him  know  that  I  knew,  and  do  nothing 
more." 


GUILTY  AND  NOT  GUILTY          217 

"  In  that  view  of  it,  is  your  course  quite  right  to 
your  friends — to  those  who  are  not  here,  as  well 
as  those  who  are?  " 

*'  You  mean  that  I  turn  loose  a  thief  among 
them?" 

"  I  do." 

"  That  does  not  bother  me,  Maynadier,"  said 
Marbury.  "  I  have  paid  my  loss,  I  am  not  lament 
ing.  I  have  no  friends  to  protect,  except  yourself, 
and  you  I  have  told." 

Maynadier  made  no  reply.  He  knew  Marbury's 
way,  and  the  uselessness  of  arguing  the  general 
good,  and  the  duty  one  owes  to  society.  Marbury 
would  scorn  to  suspect  a  guest  of  crime,  would 
refuse  to  prosecute  if  detected,  yet  he  would  do 
nothing  to  protect  his  fellow  men  from  being  vic 
timized.  It  was  a  queer  philosophy ;  but  Marbury 
had  been  taught  in  a  hard  school,  and  early  learned 
the  lesson  of  self  alone.  To  him,  the  doctrine  of 
personal  responsibility  applied  only  to  himself,  his 
family,  and  his  friends — further,  it  did  not  extend ; 
and  there  was  no  obligation  to  society  whatever. 
So  far  as  he  was  concerned,  society  could  look  out 
for  itself. 

"  I  will  tell  you,  if  I  observe  anything,"  said 
Maynadier — "  that  is,  if  you  wish  it." 

"  Yes,  please,"  said  Marbury ;  "  but  tell  no  one 
else." 

Maynadier   encountered   Miss    Stirling  in   the 
hallway,  with  Herford  in  attendance.     She  met  him 


218  THE  IMPOSTOR 

with  a  glad  smile,  dismissed  the  Captain  with  a  wave 
of  her  hand,  and  attached  him,  instead. 

And  he  suffered  himself  to  be  attached.  If 
Judith  would  not  have  him,  until  it  pleased  her,  he 
would,  at  least,  entertain  himself.  He  had  no  idea 
of  making  her  jealous,  but  it  was  as  well  to  take 
her  advice,  and  let  Miss  Stirling  give  him  some 
"  instruction." 

She  led  the  way  to  a  quiet  corner  of  the  drawing 
room,  and,  for  more  than  an  hour,  he  sat  under 
fascinations  such  as  he  had  never  thought  a  woman 
possessed.  It  was  the  first  good  chance  he  had 
given  her,  and  she  utilized  it  to  the  full. 

And,  presently,  he,  too,  caught  a  bit  of  the 
infection. 

"  You  are  outdoing  yourself,  this  evening,"  he 
declared. 

"  In  what  way  ?  "  she  .asked,  artlessly. 

"  In  every  way — in  beauty." 

"  For  which  I  am  not  responsible — it  was  given 
me,"  with  demure  modesty. 

"  In  fascination,"  he  continued. 

"  Which  is  cultivated,  for  what  it  will  effect ; 
no  credit  comes  to  me  for  it." 

"  All  credit  comes  to  you  for  it,"  he  answered — 
"  though  I  had  rather  believe  it  natural — it  is  too 
spontaneous  to  be  otherwise." 

"  Merci,  monsieur,"  and,  arising,  swept  him  a 
curtsy. 

"  No,  I  mean  it !  "  he  protested. 


GUILTY  AND  NOT  GUILTY          219 

"  Is  not  fascination  equivalent  to  coquetry  ?  " 
she  asked. 

"  Fascination  may  include  coquetry,  it  compre 
hends  more,  much  more." 

"  For  instance?  " 

"  Ease  of  bearing,  under  all  circumstances." 

"  You  think  I  have  that  quality." 

"  To  perfection,  mademoiselle,  to  perfection." 

"What  else?" 

"  Knowledge  of  the  world,  and  how  to  use  it." 

"  And  what  else  ?  "  she  asked,  her  hand  straying 
slowly  over  until  it  lay  just  short  of  his  own. 

"  Knowledge  of  men — and  their  eccentricities." 

"  Which  might  mean  I  am  a  flirt,"  she  said. 

He  laughed  softly,  "  Do  you  want  me  to  say  you 
are  not  a.  flirt?  " 

"  No — not  exactly,"  joining  in  the  laugh;  "  but 
there  are  different  sorts  of  flirts,  you  know,  mon 
sieur." 

"  The  expert  and  the  inexpert  ?  " 

"  Yes — and  the  good  and  the  bad,  in  a  moral 
sense." 

"  I  am  endeavouring  to  praise  you,  made 
moiselle,"  he  said. 

"  I  hope  so — but,"  with  a  most  enticing  look, 
"  one  dare  not  take  too  much  for  granted." 

"  You  could  not,  take  too  much,"  he  replied,  rais 
ing  his  hand  in  a  gesture.  When  it  came  down  it 
rested  on  hers. 

She  felt  him  start,  slightly,  but  he  let  his  hand 


220  THE  IMPOSTOR 

remain,  and  she,  for  her  part,  did  not  seem  to 
notice. 

It  was  a  soft  hand,  and  a  small,  with  a  faint 
perfume  about  it,  with  delicate  fingers  and  slender 
wrist. — His  own  still  lingered,  hers  was  not  with 
drawn.  Lightly  he  pressed  it — no  answer,  save 
in  silence.  He  knew  now  that  she  was  drawing 
him  on — would  not  rebuke  him,  unless  he  went  too 
far.  His  fingers  closed  over  hers  in  an  unmis 
takable  caress.  She  did  not  reprove  him;  instead, 
she  gazed  across  the  drawing-room,  a  dreamy  light 
in  her  eyes. 

"  So  you  are  going  away,  to-morrow,"  he  said, 
his  voice  sinking  lower  than  usual. 

"  Yes,"  she  replied,  "  yes,  to-morrow." 

"  I  am  sorry — very  sorry — a  little  longer,  and 
we  might  have  been  better  friends." 

"  It  is  not  my  fault,  monsieur,  that  we  are  not 
better — friends,"  she  answered,  her  look  still  distant. 

"  Nor  mine,"  he  said. 

She  turned  her  eyes  upon  his  face,  with  calm 
sincerity. 

"  It  is  God's  fault,  then,"  she  responded.  "  So 
we  have  none  to  blame.  But  what  is  to  hinder  your 
coming  to  the  Snowdens',  there,  we  can  begin 
afresh." 

"  Alas !  I  am  for  Annapolis  in  the  morning,"  he 
said,  bending  down  over  her — "  and  shall  be  kept 
there  for  at  least  a  week." 


GUILTY  AND  NOT  GUILTY 

"  Why  go?  "  she  whispered. 

"  I  have  no  alternative :  the  Governor's  summons, 
I  must  obey." 

"  Always  the  way — duty  first." 

"  You  would  not  have  me  shirk  duty  ?  "  he  asked. 

She  saw  it  was  a  false  step,  and  beat  a  quick 
retreat. 

"  You  know  I  would  not,"  she  said.  "  Did  you 
forget,  I,  too,  come  of  those  who  serve  the  King." 

She  was  very  alluring,  in  her  gown  of  brocaded 
lustring,  ruby-colored,  with  white  tobine  stripes, 
trimmed  with  floss,  the  high-piled  hair,  the  fair 
face,  the  dark,  expressive  eyes,  the  bowed  mouth, 
the  slender  neck.  And  he  was  not  dead  to  beauty, 
so  near  and  so  yielding.  He  loosed,  suddenly,  the 
little  hand,  and  wound  his  arm  about  her  waist. 

"  Oh,  monsieur !  "  she  whispered,  making  slightly 
to  get  free. 

He  held  her  closer.  "Nay,"  he  said.  "Why 
do  you  fear  me  ?  " 

She  ceased  to  struggle.  "  I  fear — lest  we  be 
seen." 

Her  yielding  body,  held  close  to  his  own,  the 
perfume,  the  lovely  face  upturned,  gripped  his 
senses — for  an  instant,  discretion  fled — he  bent  and 
kissed  those  full  red  lips. 

And  in  that  instant,  Judith  Marbury  stood  in 
the  doorway,  and  saw  it  all.  The  next  moment,  she 
had  vanished. 

But  Miss  Stirling  was  not  so  occupied  with  May- 


222  THE  IMPOSTOR 

nadier,   that   she   had   not   seen — and   understood. 
She  sprang  away. 

"  Judith  Marbury  !  "  she  exclaimed. 

"  Where?  "  he  demanded,  freeing  her,  instantly. 

"  There — in  the  doorway !  She  saw  you  kiss 
me!" 

"  The  devil !  "  he  exclaimed. 

"Who — Judith  or  I?"  she  asked,  naively. 

"  Myself — myself !  and  to  set  you  right,  I  acted 
the  devil  and  kissed  you  by  force." 

"  That  is  very  good  of  you — to  take  the  blame 
upon  yourself — but  I  am  guilty,  too;  I  let  you  do 
it." 

He  shook  his  head — though  he  knew  she  spoke 
only  the  truth.  Her  readiness  to  share  the  blame, 
however,  made  it  only  the  more  obligatory  for  him 
to  assume  it  all. 

And  she,  knowing  Maynadier  better  than  he 
imagined,  watched  him  with  a  sly  smile,  well  under 
standing  what  would  be  his  course. 

"  I  will  explain  to  Miss  Marbury,"  he  said. 
"  And  I  am  sure  that  she  will  never  tell." 

She  laughed  softly.  "  I  am  sure,  too — I  caught 
Sir  Edward  Parkington  kissing  her  in  the  park 
yesterday,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  she  was  will 
ing,  for  her  arms  were  about  his  neck.  Further 
more,  she  knows  that  I  saw  her." 

Maynadier  was  silent.  So  the  world  turns !  And 
Judith  was  willing!  and  Parkington  was  early  tak- 


GUILTY  AND  NOT  GUILTY          223 

ing  the  things  that  came  his  way !  Vanity  of  vani 
ties  !  .  .  .  .  He  laughed,  a  queer,  dry  laugh,  that 
had  no  mirth  in  it,  no  feeling. 

"  Which  being  the  case,  I  will  have  another — 
several  others !  "  he  said — and  crushed  her  to  him. 

She  lay  in  his  arms,  a  moment,  and  gave  him 
her  lips — then,  she  put  him  firmly  from  her,  and 
sat  up. 

"  You  have  had  enough,  for  this  time,"  she  said, 
blushing. 

He  looked  at  her,  flushed  and  eager.  Her  beauty 
and  warmth  had  done  their  work. 

"  Just  one  more !  "  he  exclaimed,  and  took  it, 
mightily,  as  his  prehistoric  ancestor  might  have 
done 

She  straightened  her  hair,  and  brushed  away  the 
powder  he  had  left  upon  her  shoulder. 

"  Really,  Mr.  Maynadier,  you  must  not,"  she  pro 
tested.  "  My  gown  will  be  in  tatters  with  such 
handling.  Where  did  you  learn  to  kiss  so — peremp 
torily?" 

"  One  does  it,  naturally,  with  you — and  prays 
for  more." 

"  Prays !  "  she  laughed.  "  A  robber  does  not 
pray — he  takes. — No,  sir!  you  have  had  sufficient. 
You 

She  escaped  from  him,  at  last,  and  stood,  rosy 
and  panting,  a  little  way  off. 

"  Now,  I  shall  have  to  go  to  my  room — my  gown 
and  my  hair  are  a  sight — oh!  you  are  wicked — 


THE  IMPOSTOR 

wicked !  "  she  ended — and  fled,  leaving  behind  her  a 
vision  of  slender  ankles  and  silk  stockings. 

Maynadier  looked  after  her  with  a  dubious  smile. 

"  I  do  not  know  about  my  being  wicked,"  he 
muttered,  "  but  I  do  know  that  I  am  a  damn  fool ! 
....  Bah!  they  are  all  alike!  the  most  modest 
will  frivol  if  she  but  get  the  man,  and  the  place, 
and  the  inclination."  ....  Presently,  he  laughed. 
"  I  fancy  I  was  unexpectedly  strenuous.  I  warrant 
she  had  not  had  such  a  kissing,  in  many  a  day." 

He  pushed  his  velvet-sheathed  rapier  back  under 
his  coat-skirt  and  brought  the  handle  forward, 
brushed  the  powder  from  his  shoulders,  straightened 
his  cravat,  and,  taking  out  his  gold  snuff-box, 
flourished  a  pinch  to  his  nostrils.  He  would  wait 
until  she  came  down. 

Presently  she  came,  descending  slowly,  her  dress 
held  with  both  hands.  Her  hair  had  been  put  to 
rights,  her  gown  smoothed  out. 

Maynadier  stepped  forward,  and  met  her  at  the 
foot  of  the  stairs.  She  paused,  just  out  of  reach. 

"  Will  you  promise  to  be  well-behaved  ?  "  she 
asked,  tantalizingly. 

"  If  you  will  promise  not  to  tempt  too  far,"  he 
replied. 

"  Tempt !  "  she  inflected.  "  I  am  no  temptress, 
Mr.  Maynadier." 

Gravely,  he  took  her  hand,  and  led  her  before  the 
mirror,  in  the  drawing  room. 


GUILTY  AND  NOT  GUILTY          225 

"  No  temptress,  think  you?  "  he  inquired.  "  No 
temptress ! " 

"  I  cannot  help  what  God  has  done,"  she  said, 
and  smiled  in  the  glass,  alluringly. 

"  Careful ! — careful !  "  he  admonished — "  or  I 
have  visions  of  another  tousled  head-dress.'* 

"  Very  pretty — very  pretty,  indeed  1 "  said  Her- 
ford's  voice  behind  them.  "  May  I  come  into  the 
picture  ?  " 

Instantly,  Maynadier  dropped  her  hand  and 
stepped  back;  but  she,  womanlike,  was  the  nimbler 
witted. 

"  You  may  have  a  portrait  of  yourself,  alone" 
she  answered;  "  this  one  is  finished." 

He  laughed  superciliously.  "  I  hope  so,"  he 
said ;  "  finished  for  all  time." 

"  Why,  finished  for  all  time,  Captain  Herford?  " 
she  inquired,  a  chilly  note  in  her  tone.  "  If  Mr. 
Maynadier  is  good  enough  to  show  me,  before  the 
glass,  how  becomingly  I  am  gowned,  what  affair 
is  it  of  yours,  or  of  any  one?  " 

"  I  should  never  have  guessed  it ! "  he  returned, 
with  affected  contrition. 

**  Possibly  not,  you  are  very  slow  at  times." 

"  Because,"  he  went  on,  "  Mr.  Maynadier's  atten 
tion  seemed  to  be  directed  entirely  to  your  lips." 

"  What  do  you  mean,  sir  ? "  Maynadier  de 
manded. 

She  put  her  hand,  restrainingly,  on  his  arm. 
15 


THE  IMPOSTOR 


"  You  must  not  quarrel  with  him,"  she  said. 
Then  to  Herford.  "  And  if  it  were,  sir,  do  my  lips 
not  justify  it?  " 

'*  Marry,  yes  !  "  he  answered  curtly,  "  and  your 
eyes,  and  your  hair,  and  everything  about  you." 

"  Just  what  Mr.  Maynadier  was  engaged  in  tell 
ing  me,  when  you  broke  in.  You  have  told  me  the 
same,  a  score  of  times;  surely,  Mr.  Maynadier  may 
tell  me,  once." 

She  was  trying  to  find  out  just  how  much  Her 
ford  had  witnessed.  There  was  no  occasion  for 
Maynadier  taking  up  the  quarrel  —  if  he  had  seen 
only  what  had  happened  since  she  came  down  from 
her  room.  Indeed,  she  was  not  particularly  averse, 
if  he  had  seen  it  all.  Herford  would  hold  his 
tongue,  and,  with  a  man  of  Maynadier's  notions, 
it  would  be  in  her  favor,  likely  —  he  would  think  he 
had  done  her  a  wrong  —  had  put  her  in  a  false 
position  —  he  would  try  to  right  it.  And,  if  she 
could  effect  it,  he  would  be  caught.  She  wanted 
to  bring  him  to  a  proposal  —  then,  she  could  decide 
whether  to  return  to  England  or  to  stay.  If  she 
were  to  stay,  she  knew  that  Maynadier  was  the  only 
man  who  could  persuade  her  —  and,  at  the  pinch, 
even  his  attractions  might  fail. 

Maynadier,  for  his  part,  having  made  a  "  fool  " 
of  himself,  was  prepared  to  accept  its  responsibili 
ties,  even  to  fighting  a  duel  with  Herford,  if  neces 
sary  to  save  Miss  Stirling's  good  name. 


GUILTY  AND  NOT  GUILTY          227 

For  him,  the  catastrophe  had  been,  when  Judith 
Marbury  saw — and  was  seen.  He  did  not  think  she 
really  cared  for  Parkington — the  flattery  of  being 
noticed,  with  his  air  of  distinction  and  position, 
had  doubtless  turned  her  head.  It  would  be  all  over 
with,  in  a  month  or  two,  when  he  departed,  and, 
may  be,  the  flirtation  would  not  last  even  so  long. — 

Afterwards ?  He  did  not  know.  She  had 

something  to  explain,  as  well  as  he!  Possibly,  it 
would  be  wiser  for  him  not  to  explain — to  act  as  if 
none  were  required.  A  man  is  different  from  a 
woman :  he  may  take  what  comes,  if  he  take  it  skil 
fully  ;  but,  a  woman  may  not  take — and  be  caught. 
That  was  Judith's  misfortune — she  might  have  been 
kissed  by  Parkington,  and  a  dozen  others,  and  no 
one  would  have  been  the  wiser.  But  she  had  been 
seen ;  and,  henceforth,  she  was  under  the  suspicion 
of  every  one  who  knew  it. 

"  Is  it  going  to  stop  with  the  *  once'?  "  Herford 
demanded. 

"  You  will  have  to  ask  Mr.  Maynadier,"  she  re 
plied,  laughing. 

"  And  he  declines  to  express  himself,"  said  May 
nadier,  instantly.  He  offered  his  arm  to  her  and 
bowed.  "  Shall  we  resume  the  mirror,  or  shall  we 
go  outside  ?  " 

"Outside,"  she  answered,  pressing  his  arm. 
"  Will  Captain  Herford  go  with  us  ?  "  holding  out 
her  hand  and  giving  him  a  dazzling  smile.  (She 


228  THE  IMPOSTOR 

must  take  him  along  and  be  nice  to  him,  she 
thought.)  And  she  conquered,  as  she  knew  she 
could  with  him. 

"  You  do  not  deserve  it,"  she  whispered,  as  she 
sh'pped  her  arm  through  his,  "  but,  then,  you  can 
be  very  nice,  at  times." 

He  smiled,  much  as  a  child  might  have  done,  and, 
in  an  instant,  his  good  nature  returned. 

"  I  am  sorry,  Maynadier,"  he  said.  "  I  apologize 
to  Miss  Stirling  and  to  you.  I  acted  like  a  spoiled 
boy." 

"  If  Miss  Stirling  pardons  you,  mine  goes  with 
it,"  Maynadier  replied.  "  You  are  a  trifle  impul 
sive  in  your  judgment — sometime,  it  will  lead  you 
into  trouble." 

"  It  is  the  sort  of  impulsiveness  a  woman  can 
forgive,"  Miss  Stirling  said,  and  leaning  for  a 
moment  on  his  arm. 

Which  completely  captured  Herford — as  she  in 
tended  it  should  do — and  made  it  a  matter  of  in 
difference  how  much  he  saAV.  And  Maynadier  smiled 
in  understanding,  perceiving  the  play  and  its  mo 
tive, — and,  leaving  them  together,  he  went  in  search 
of  Miss  Marbury. 

He  found  her,  somewhat  later,  coming  from  the 
park  with  Mrs.  Plater,  Miss  Tyler,  Constable  and 
Paca.  To  his  surprise,  she  greeted  him  with  the 
old  smile,  and  motioned  him  beside  her. 

"  She  knows  she  is  guilty,  also,"  he  thought, 
"  and  suspects  that  Miss  Stirling  has  told  me." 


GUILTY  AND  NOT  GUILTY          229 

"  Well,  I  see,  sir,"  she  said,  as  they  dropped 
behind  the  others,  "  that  you  have  lost  no  time  in 
securing  instruction — and  have  made  rare  progress. 
I  foretold  that  you  would  be  the  favorite  pupil." 

He  made  no  attempt  at  not  comprehending — she 
had  seen  him,  so,  why  dissemble? 

"  There  are  other  favorite  pupils,  also,  it  would 
seem,"  he  remarked,  significantly. 

"  Sir  Edward  Parkington  ?  "  she  laughed. 

He  was  not  prepared  for  such  candor;  he  was 
astonished,  and  his  expression  showed  it. 

"  I  see  you  understand,"  he  said. 

"  Why  should  you  be  surprised  ?  "  she  asked — 
"  for  you  were  surprised,  Dick,  or  else  I  cannot 
read  your  face." 

"  I  was  surprised — that  you  should  admit  it." 

She  looked  at  him,  puzzled.  "  I  am  afraid  I  do 
not  understand,"  she  said.  "Admit  it!  Admit 
what?" 

"  Sir  Edward  Parkington." 

Her  frown  deepened.  "  Have  you  been  mixing 
the  brandy  and  the  wine  ?  " 

He  laughed,  a  bit  scornfully. 

"  Why  admit,  and  then  deny  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Really,  Dick,  either  I  am  woefully  stupid,  or 
else  you  speak  in  riddles." 

"  You  are  not  stupid,  and  neither  do  I  speak  in 
riddles,"  he  said.  "  You  admitted  the  Parkington 
matter,  just  as  I  admitted  the  Miss  Stirling  matter; 
because  it  is  useless  to  deny  it." 


230  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  I  admitted  the  Parkington  matter?  "  she  mar 
velled.  "  I  was  not  aware  I  admitted  anything. 
You  said  there  were  other  favorite  pupils,  and  I 
asked  you — but  without  expecting  an  answer — if  it 
were  Parkington." 

He  shook  his  head.  "  It  will  not  do,  Judith — 
the  explanation  is  an  afterthought." 

"  Dick,"  she  said,  "  I  lose  patience  with  you, 
sometimes — just  what  do  you  mean?  " 

"  I  mean  this :  You  saw  me  kiss  Miss  Stirling, 
did  you  not?  " 

She  nodded — but  her  eyes  were  straight  ahead. 

"  Well,  Sir  Edward  Parkington  kissed  you,  in 
the  park — so,  there  is  not  much  to  choose  between 
us." 

For  a  little  while,  she  made  no  answer — then,  she 
laughed,  softly  and  musically. 

"  Dick!  "  she  said — "  Dick!  do  you  believe  it?  " 

He  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  Answer  me — do  you  believe  it?  " 

He  looked  at  her — eyes  half  closed,  in  contem 
plation — and  made  no  reply. 

"  Richard  Maynadier,  I  want  to  know,  whether 
you  believe  that  tale,  or  whether  you  do  not." 

"  I  do  not  want  to  believe  it,"  he  said,  after  a 
pause. 

"  Thank  you !  but  that  is  not  enough ;  any  friend 
would  naturally  not  want  to  believe.  It  is  not  what 
you  want,  but  what  you  do  believe." 


GUILTY  AND  NOT  GUILTY  231 

"  Will  you  tell  me  it  is  not  true  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  will  tell  you  nothing,"  she  returned,  "  until 
you  answer  my  question." 

"  I  will  believe  whatever  you  say." 

"  Then,  you  will  be  without  belief  on  this  ques 
tion." 

He  hesitated  a  bit  longer.  Between  Miss  Stir 
ling's  assertion  and  Judith  Marbury's  method  of 
denial — for  denial,  he  assumed  it  to  be — it  was 
difficult  to  choose.  But,  in  his  heart,  he  was  doubt 
ing  the  former — her  eyesight  was  at  fault — some 
thing  was  at  fault.  It  could  not  have  been  Judith 
— some  one  else,  who  resembled  her  in  the  moonlight. 
He  cared,  not  at  all,  who,  so  long  as  it  was  not  she. 
That  Miss  Stirling  had  deliberately  lied,  did  not 
occur  to  him.  He  held  woman  on  too  high  a  plane 
— besides,  the  Maryland  women  (whom  he  knew) 
did  not  lie. 

"  For  the  last  time,  Dick,"  she  said,  the  faintest 
touch  of  chilliness  in  her  tones,  "  do  you  believe 
that  I  ever  kissed  Sir  Edward  Parkington,  in  the 
park  or  elsewhere?  " 

And,  now,  Maynadier's  answer  was  ready  and 
instant. 

"  I  do  not,"  he  said ;  "  I  think  I  never  did." 

"  You  great  stupid,"  she  laughed.  "  Of  course 
you  never  did.  But  why  was  it  so  hard  for  you 
to  say  it?" 

"  I  do  not  know,"  he  confessed. 


232  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  think  you  do,"  she  answered.  "  It 
was  because  /  had  caught  you — for  you,  sir,  there 
can  be  no  denial.  And  your  forgiveness  will  have 
to  bide  a  bit,  Mr.  Maynadier." 

And  before  he  could  reply,  she  had  left  him ;  nor 
did  he  see  her,  again,  before  he  departed  from 
Hedgely  Hall. 


XV 


IX>NG-SWORD    AGAIN 

FOR  more  than  six  weeks,  taken  up  entirely  by  his 
duties  as  one  of  the  Council,  Richard  Maynadier 
remained  in  Annapolis  or  at  country  houses  in  the 
immediate  vicinity; — Whitehall,  the  Governor's 
summer  place,  ten  miles  distant;  at  Belvoir,  the 
Ross  place  on  Wyatt's  Ridge,  up  the  Severn,  over 
looking  the  waters  of  Round  Bay;  at  Tulip  Hall, 
the  Galloway  place  on  West  River;  and  at  Mont- 
pelier,  the  Ridgely  place,  on  the  Savage. 

Governor  Sharpe  was  having  his  troubles  with  the 
Lower  House  of  the  General  Assembly  over  the 
Supply  Bill,  which  he  regarded  as  necessary  in  one 
form,  and  the  law  makers  in  another.  The  execu 
tive  and  the  legislative  minds  would  not  meet,  as  to 
what  was  best  for  the  well-being  of  the  Colony,  and, 
as  a  result,  they  were  kept  in  session  through  the 
summer,  and  not  suffered  to  adjourn.  The  Gover 
nor  refused  to  prorogue  them  until  they  passed  a 
Bill  acceptable  to  him;  they  refused  to  pass  such 
a  Bill.  A  deadlock  was  the  natural  result — during 
which  much  unkind  language  was  used,  by  the 
Representatives  toward  the  Governor. 

He,  however,  having  sent  them  a  message  making 
evident  his  desires  in  this  particular,  was  digni- 
fiedly  reserved.  They  knew  what  he  wanted — when 

233 


234  THE  IMPOSTOR 

he  got  it,  or  something  near  it,  they  could  go  home. 
If  they  went  home,  without  being  prorogued,  those, 
who  were  in  accord  with  him,  would  pass  his  Bill. 
He  had  the  whiphand — he  could  afford  to  maintain 
a  dignified  reserve.  Moreover,  it  was  his  nature. 

Meanwhile,  Sir  Edward  Parkington  had  spent  one 
week  with  the  Snowdens,  and  then,  on  their  urging, 
had  consented  to  remain  three  more.  After  which, 
he  went  to  Sotterly,  for  a  short  visit,  and  then  to 
Rousby  Hall.  In  the  first  part  of  August,  he  was 
due  at  Whitehall,  for  an  indefinite  stay. 

He  had  settled  down,  to  a  skilful  courtship  of 
Judith  Marbury,  the  day  they  arrived  at  the  Snow- 
dens',  and  had  continued,  persistently,  during  the 
two  weeks  to  which  her  visit  had  been  prolonged. 
He  had  had —  to  him — several  very  satisfactory  talks 
with  old  Marbury,  just  before  he  left  Hedgely 
Hall,  and  he  thought  that  all  effect  of  the  overflow 
of  confidence,  on  the  part  of  the  latter,  had  been 
forgotten,  and  that  he  would  welcome  Sir  Edward 
Parkington  as  a  son-in-law.  In  fact,  if  he  could 
have  been  assured  of  the  daughter,  he  would  have 
been  entirely  satisfied. 

She  was  exasperatingly  perplexing.  She  had  been 
most  responsive  up  to  a  certain  point,  but  he  could 
never  get  beyond.  He  had  not  tried  to  make 
love  to  her,  deliberately  and  with  evident  purpose, 
but  he  stopped  just  short  of  it.  And  she,  for  her 
part,  appeared  to  be  flattered  by  the  attentions  of 
the  cultured  Englishman,  and  to  receive  them  with 


LONG-SWORD  AGAIN  235 

something  more  than  a  passing  pleasure.  Yet, 
behind  it,  there  was  a  reserve — a  something — which 
all  his  efforts  had  failed  to  penetrate. 

At  times,  he  thought  she  was  deliberately  trying 
to  draw  him  on;  then,  again,  that  she  was  trying 
to  stay  him.  It  was  very  fascinating,  very  pretty, 
and  very  alluring,  but  it  was  certainly  not  satis 
factory  to  him.  She  must  love  him,  before  he  could 
confess  the  changed  identity,  and  hope  to  hold  her; 
for  he  had  arrived  at  the  conclusion,  that  Judith 
Marbury  would  marry  only  where  she  loved. 

The  nearest  he  came  to  love-making — and  an 
incident  worth  narrating,  because  it  touched  him 
rather  closely — occurred  at  the  Snowdens'. 

One  day,  the  talk  had  turned  on  the  general 
subject  of  those  who  had  left  the  old  country  and 
settled  in  the  new,  under  assumed  names — the  old 
ones  being  a  trifle  unhandy,  either  on  account  of 
the  law,  or  for  some  other  reasons.  Parkington 
had  had  nothing  to  do  with  suggesting  the  topic — 
in  fact,  he  joined  them  when  it  was  well  underway. 

"  For  my  part,"  said  Herford,  "  I  want  nothing 
to  do  with  the  man  who  takes  a  false  name.  He  is 
a  rogue — you  can  gamble  on  it." 

"  You  are  a  trifle  too  general,"  objected  Con 
stable.  "  You  forget  the  object  he  may  have  in 
changing  his  name.  Is  it  honest,  or  is  it  not?  " 

"  Honest !  "  retorted  the  Captain.  "  Does  not 
the  very  fact  answer  for  itself.  A  false  name! 
much  honesty  there  is  in  that." 


236  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  As  much  as  can  be  said,"  returned  Constable, 
"  is  that  it  puts  him  under  suspicion,  if  known. 
But,  if  it  be  not  known,  and  if  the  man  conduct 
himself  properly,  under  his  new  name,  I,  for  one, 
would  not  care." 

"  Would  not  care  because  you  would  not  know !  " 
laughed  Herford.  "  It  would  be  otherwise,  if  you 
knew." 

"  If  I  knew  he  was  a  criminal,  yes — if  I  knew 
he  had  changed  his  name  for  some  other  reason, 
it  would  not.  In  this  new  country,  we  have  to 
take  men  for  what  they  are  worth,  as  men — we  can 
not  look  too  closely  into  motives,  so  long  as  they 
do  not  hide  a  crime." 

"  Do  either  of  you  know  a  case  in  point  ?  "  asked 
Snowden. 

"No!"  said  Herford. 

"  Nor  I,"  said  Constable ;  "  however,  I  am  very 
ready  to  believe  there  are  instances  right  around 
us." 

"  Among  our  friends  ?  " 

"  Hardly  !  "  laughed  Constable.  "  I  do  not  mean 
among  those  we  know,  but  among  those  we  do  not 
know.  Though,  for  the  matter  of  that,  if  we  go 
back  a  generation  or  two,  it  might  apply  to  us, 
also.  How  do  you  know,  Herford,  that  your  out- 
coming  ancestor  did  not  change  his  name?  " 

"  Do  you  mean  to  imply " 

"  Now,  do  not  get  excited — we  are  arguing  an 
abstract  question " 


LONG-SWORD  AGAIN  237 

"  Which  you  have  turned  into  a  personal 
question." 

"  Then  I  will  change  it.  How  do  I  know,  that 
the  original  Constable,  in  America,  did  not  go  under 
some  other  name  in  England. — I  don't — you  don't 
— no  one  knows.  We  take  each  other  on  faith,  the 
only  difference  with  us  is,  that  the  faith  extends 
back  over  a  generation  or  two."  He  glanced 
around  him.  Miss  Marbury  was  not  in  hearing. 
"  There  is  old  Marbury,  for  instance.  He  is  new. 
How  do  we  know  his  name  is  Marbury?  He  says  it 
is — so  far  as  we  are  informed,  he  has  always  said 
it  is,  but  we  do  not  know.  We  take  him  on  faith. 
We  take  almost  every  one  on  faith.  Is  it  not  so, 
Parkington  ?  " 

"  Undoubtedly,"  was  the  answer.  "  The  only  ad 
vantage  we,  of  England,  have  is  a  few  more 
generations." 

"  A  few  more  generations !  "  exclaimed  Herford. 
"  You,  who  have  them  can  afford  to  be  indifferent. 
It  is  we,  who  have  only  one,  or  two,  or,  at  the 
most,  three  who  have  to  be  careful." 

"  I  do  not  quite  grasp  your  point,"  said  Park 
ington. 

"  It  is  plain  as  I  can  make  it,"  was  the  retort. 

"  That  may  be  true,"  returned  Parkington,  with 
an  amused  smile,  "  but,  nevertheless,  I  fail  to 
comprehend." 

"  Take  your  time  to  it,  then,"  Herford  answered, 
with  a  shrug,  "  it  will  come  to  you,  presently," 


238  THE  IMPOSTOR 

and  he  sauntered  away  to  join  Miss  Stirling,  whose 
laugh  was  heard  toward  the  house. 

"  Parkington,"  said  Constable,  "  you  are  very 
considerate. — We  know  Herford  and  his  way,  and 
do  not  take  offense,  but  you  have  no  reason  for 
holding  off." 

Parkington  smiled.  "  Herford  simply  amuses 
me,"  he  said.  "  I  always  want  to  laugh,  when  he 
grows  sarcastic.  He  hits  my  funny-bone  instead 
of  my  temper.  I  suppose,  for  my  own  reputation, 
I  should  call  him  out,  but,  to  my  mind,  a  spanking 
would  be  more  appropriate." 

"  Exactly  our  judgment,"  remarked  Snowden. 
"  And,  yet,  he  is  an  excellent  officer,  with  a  first- 
class  record  in  active  service." 

"  So  Maynadier  tells  me,"  said  Parkington. 

"  Just  now,  he  is  infatuated  with  the  Governor's 
niece,  and  has  a  quarrel  with  every  one  who  looks 
at  her,"  observed  Constable.  "  And,  on  that 
score,"  (smiling)  "he  has  fair  ground  for  being  a 
trifle  touchy  with  you." 

Parkington  laughed,  and  accepted  the  charge. 
It  was  just  as  well,  if  he  could  direct  attention 
to  Miss  Stirling,  while  he  was  making  his  way  with 
Judith. 

A  little  later,  Miss  Marbury  chanced  upon  him, 
seemingly  by  accident — in  fact,  by  intention — as  he 
was  passing  to  the  card-room  on  the  lower  floor, 
and,  presently,  they  were  strolling  back  and  forth 
in  the  rose-walk. 


LONG-SWORD  AGAIN  239 

"  Sir  Edward,  I  want  to  ask  you  something — 
and  I  want  you  to  give  me  a  true  answer,"  she  said. 

"  I  always  strive  to  make  true  answer  to  you," 
he  replied. 

"  Do  you  ?  Well,  I  am  not  so  sure.  However, 
be  truthful  now,  and  I  forgive  the  past."  She 
turned  and  faced  him.  "  What  were  Mr.  Constable 
and  Captain  Herford  and  you  discussing  a  little 
while  ago  ?  " 

"  Many  things,"  he  answered — "  sort  of  a  desul 
tory  gossip  without  point." 

"  And  among  the  '  things  '  were  the  Marburys. 
Mr.  Constable  was  talking.  He  said :  '  Old  Mar- 
bury,  for  instance.  He  is  new.  How  do  we  know 
his  name  is  Marbury  ?  He  says  it  is,  but  we  do  not 
know.'  I  did  not  hear  more — I  could  not  help  that 
I  heard  so  much.  I  was  passing  behind  the  hedge, 
and  his  words  came  to  me,  before  I  could  realize 
they  were  not  for  my  ears." 

"  My  dear  Miss  Marbury,  he  was  only  citing  an 
instance  to  prove  a  general  proposition ! "  Park- 
ington  exclaimed.  "  We  were  not  discussing  any 
one.  Had  you  heard  the  last  of  his  remarks,  you 
would  have  understood.  They  were,  '  we  take 
almost  every  one  on  faith.'  I  am  sure " 

"  I  am  not  sensitive,"  she  interrupted.  "  I  know 
we  are  new  people — that  my  father  is  the  founder  of 
his  family — that  we  have  to  stand,  George  and  I, 
on  our  own  merits,  and  father's  money.  I  have 
great  faith  in  the  latter,  Sir  Edward !  "  she  laughed. 


240  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  It  will  get  me  a  husband  from  among  the  aristo 
crats  of  the  Province,  if  I  wish  it." 

"  It  will  do  more — it  and  your  sweetness  will  get 
you  a  husband  from  the  gentlemen  of  England," 
he  said,  with  a  meaning  look  and  a  low  bow. 

"  If  I  went  to  London,  and  hawked  myself  around 
for  sale,  maybe,"  she  answered,  deliberately  mis 
understanding  him. 

"  Why  go  so  far,  my  lady  ?  "  he  asked. 

This  time,  there  was  no  misunderstanding  pos 
sible,  but  she  still  continued  to  treat  it  as  im 
personal. 

"  No,"  she  said,  with  a  shake  of  her  head,  "  that 
would  be  unnecessarily  difficult  for  the  man — he 
would  have  to  prove  too  much;  and  the  further  re 
moved  the  proofs  are  from  America,  the  more  they 
are  required." 

"  But  if  the  man  thought  nothing  of  the  diffi 
culty?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  should  be  severe !  "  she  laughed.  "  I  should 
want  to  be  assured,  first,  of  his  good  faith." 

He  bowed. 

"  And  of  his  family's  willingness,  if  I  were  to  go 
to  England." 

"  Suppose  you  did  not  have  to  go  to  England — 
suppose  that  he  remained  here?  " 

"  It  is  not  supposable,"  she  answered. 

"  But  if  it  were?  "  he  insisted. 

"  Then,  it  would  be  eliminated." 

"  And  what  else  would  he  have  to  prove?  " 


LONG-SWORD  AGAIN 

"  He  would  have  to  prove,"  she  answered,  slowly, 
"  that  he  has  a  right  to  the  name  he  bears." 

Though  she  was  watching  him  closely,  he  gave 
not  the  slightest  indication  of  surprise. 

"  Would  that  not  be  most  unusual,"  he  said — 
"  to  require  a  man  to  prove  that  he  is  not  an  impos 
tor?  Is  not  the  presumption  with  him  instead  of 
against  him — unless,  of  course,  something  has 
aroused  your  suspicions  ?  " 

"  Yes !  "  was  the  vague  reply,  that  told  him  noth 
ing,  and  let  him  think  anything.  "  And,  then, 
after  he  had  done  all  these  things,  Sir  Edward,  he 
would  have  to  make  me  love  him." 

"  My  dear  Miss  Marbury,"  said  Parkington, 
with  an  amused  smile,  "  when  you  admit  the  love 
element  all  else  departs." 

"  I  should  not  love  him  until  he  had  complied 
with  the  conditions." 

"  You  would  coerce  love?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  should  try,"  she  answered,  after  a  little  pause. 

His  hand  found  hers,  as  though  by  accident,  and 
she  let  it  linger  for  an  instant,  before  she  took  her 
own  away.  Then,  she  said: 

"  Sometimes,  Sir  Edward,  I  fancy  you  are  in 
clined  to  play  at  making  love  to  me  just  to  keep 
your  hand  in ! "  and,  with  a  merry  laugh,  fled. 

In  the  first  week  of  August,  Sir  Edward  Park 
ington  came  to  Annapolis  to  stay  with  Governor 
16 


242  THE  IMPOSTOR 

Sharpe,  preparatory  to  going  with  him  to  White 
hall. 

He  promptly  returned  the  two  hundred  pounds, 
his  Excellency  had  lent  him  earlier  in  the  season ; 
the  card  tables  had  yielded  very  good  pickings  from 
his  fellow  guests,  and  no  need  for  any  exercise  of 
his  particular  skill,  either,  his  natural  ability, 
and  Dame  Fortune,  having  been  ample  for  success. 

The  Governor  and  the  Lower  House  had  reached 
an  agreement  as  to  the  Supply  Bill,  at  last,  and  the 
Assembly  was  scheduled  to  be  prorogued  on  the 
morrow.  The  town  was  filled  with  those  who 
usually  attend  the  last  hours  of  any  legislative 
body: — the  officers  of  the  Provincial  Government, 
the  Councillors,  the  Representatives,  the  hangers 
on,  the  spoilsmen  and  the  riff-raff.  Otherwise, 
Annapolis  was  deserted. 

The  heated  spell  was  at  its  height,  and  the 
gentility  had,  long  since,  sought  the  cool  and  quiet 
of  their  country  estates,  along  the  Eastern  and 
Western  Shores.  The  Governor's  house  was  open, 
with  its  usual  retinue  of  servants,  but  it  was 
alone  in  its  grandeur.  The  rest  showed  only  a 
single  light  at  night,  and  a  solitary  servant,  left 
to  care  for  the  man  of  the  family  who  was  in  pres 
ence.  They,  too,  would  vanish  on  the  morrow,  and 
Annapolis  would,  so  far  as  the  sacred  precincts  of 
the  quality  were  concerned,  become  a  dead  city, 
until  Autumn  touched  it  again  to  life. 

It  was   something  after  ten   o'clock,  when   Sir 


LONG-SWORD  AGAIN  243 

Edward  Parkington,  being  bored  with  himself,  left 
the  Governor's  mansion,  and  sauntered  through  the 
deserted  precincts  of  the  town  to  the  Coffee-house, 
on  Church  Street. 

He  could  count  on  finding  some  of  the  young 
bloods  there,  and  some  of  the  old  bloods,  as  well — 
the  legislature  could  not  hold  every  one,  on  such  a 
night.  Before  he  came  to  State  House  Hill,  he 
saw  that  the  Assembly  had  risen,  and,  when  he 
reached  the  Coffee-house,  the  noise,  from  within, 
told  him  that  he  should  find  plenty  of  companion 
ship. 

In  the  larger  room,  were  gathered  a  coterie  of 
the  younger  men,  who  greeted  him  with  a  shout  of 
welcome. 

"  Come  in,  Parkington!  come  in,  and  join  us!" 
shouted  Mr.  Cole.  He  thundered  on  the  table. 
"  Here,  Sparrow,  a  glas'h  for  Sir  Edward.  We 
are  drinking  confush'on  to  those  who  think  differ 
ently  from  us." 

"  I  can  drink  that  toast,  and  think  as  I  please ! " 
laughed  Parkington. 

"  'Zactly !  'Zactly !  that's  just  it — you  have  the 
idea — shink  as  you  please — the  point  isn't  to  shink, 
it's  to  take  a  drink. — Sir  Edward,  your  good 
health ! " 

Parkington  drank,  then  put  aside  his  glass,  and 
sat  down.  Mr.  Jennings,  who  was  reading  the 
Gazette,  looked  up. 

"  Here  is  a  fellow  who  must  have  been  as  mellow 
as  our  friend  Cole,"  he  said.  "  Listen : 


THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  '  A  hat  was  taken  off  a  gentleman's  head  m  the 
street  before  the  Subscriber's  House  in  Upper  Marl- 
borough,  on  Friday  night,  the  7th  ultimo.  Who 
ever  will  stop  tlie  said  hat,  if  offered  for  sale,  and 
discover  the  thief,  so  that  he  may  be  brought  to 
justice,  shall  have  a  reward  of  two  pistoles  paid  by 

B.  Brookes.'  " 

"  Go  'long,  Jennings ! "  said  Dr.  Upton  Scott, 
(who  having  been  the  surgeon  on  Wolfe's  staff,  at 
the  battle  of  Quebec,  had  come  to  Annapolis,  mar 
ried  a  daughter  of  John  Ross,  the  Proprietor's 
Deputy,  and  built  one  of  the  most  attractive  houses 
in  town — on  the  banks  of  the  Spa,  adjoining  the 
residences  of  Carroll  and  Tasker).  "  You  are 
trading  on  our  credulity." 

"  I  swear  it  is  here — just  as  I  read  it." 

"  Well,  even  Cole  has  a  long  way  to  go,  before 
he  gets  as  drunk  as  Brookes'  friend.  But,  cheer 
up,  old  man,  you  are  getting  there !  "  said  the  Doc 
tor,  clapping  Cole  on  the  shoulder,  and  spilling  a 
pint  of  Madeira  out  of  his  hands. 

"  I'm  getting  there ! "  Cole  agreed,  looking  up 
with  a  silly  smile,  "  but  I'll  get  there  fas'her  if  you 
spilled  les'h,  Scott. 

"  I'm  a  s'h'ailor  bold,  a  s'h'ailor  bold, 

Ho!   Ho!   Ho! 

I'm  a  s'h'ailor  bold,  a  s'h'ailor  bold, 
Ho!  Ho!  Ho!" 

"  Stop  your  infernal  din ! "  said  Lloyd  Dulany, 
"  or  we  will  take  you  up  stairs,  and  put  you  to  bed." 


LONG-SWORD  AGAIN  245 

Cole  struggled  to  his  feet,  and  stood  swaying, 
uncertainly,  for  a  moment. 

"  I'm  ins'h'ulted !  "  he  said,  "  ins'h'ulted !  " 

Jennings  pushed  him  back  in  a  chair. 

"  You're  drunk,  again,  Cole,"  he  said.  "  Just  go 
to  sleep  and  forget  it." 

"  Is'h  that  advi'sh  of  a  frien'?  " 

"  Yes — very  much  a  friend." 

"  That  s'h'ettles  it — a  frien'  always  safe,"  and 
he  sat  down  heavily,  and  almost,  instantly,  was 
asleep. 

"  Cole's  only  occupation  in  life  seems  to  be  to 
sober  up  so  as  to  be  able  to  get  drunk  again,"  said 
Jennings  to  Parkington ;  "  and  that  is  why  we 
tolerate  him." 

"  Every  one  of  us  has  some  fault,"  said  Park 
ington.  "  I  am " 

His  voice  trailed  off  and  stopped.  He  was  fac 
ing  the  doorway,  and,  in  it,  a  man  was  standing. 

He  was  a  slender  man,  of  medium  height,  with  a 
wonderfully  clean-cut  face,  and  dark,  expressive 
eyes.  His  coat  and  breeches  were  of  dark-blue 
broad-cloth,  his  waistcoat  of  white  linen,  his  stock 
ings  of  black  silk,  and  he  carried  a  walking-stick. 
A  second,  he  ran  his  eyes  over  the  group ;  then, 
for  the  first  time,  he  seemed  to  see  Parkington.  A 
look  of  incredulous  amazement  broke  over  his  face. 

"  Parkington !  by  my  soul,  this  is  a  surprise !  '* 
he  exclaimed,  coming  forward  with  extended  hand. 


246  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  I  thought  you  were  rustling  it  with  the  smarts 
at  White's." 

"  Brandon !  "  cried  Sir  Edward.  "  As  I  live, 
Brandon!  Gentlemen,  let  me  present  you  to  Sir 
Charles  Brandon,  my  very  good  friend  and  inti 
mate." 

Brandon  acknowledged  the  introduction  with 
sweeping  grace. 

"  I  am,  indeed,  fortunate  to  find  Sir  Edward 
Parkington,  here,"  he  said.  "  I  had  thought  to 
meet  only  strangers ;  instead,  I  am  already  in  the 
house  of  my  friends.  There  is  nothing  like  a 
familiar  face  to  make  one  feel  at  home." 

Parkington  clapped  him  affectionately  on  the 
shoulder. 

"  You  do  not  know  Annapolis,  Brandon ! "  he 
exclaimed.  "  They  made  me  one  of  them  from  the 
first.  I  have  been  here  two  months,  and  I  ought 
to  be  moving  on,  but,  bless  me !  I  have  not  thought 
of  going." 

"  And  we  have  not  thought  of  letting  you  go," 
said  Jennings.  "  We  are  going  to  keep  you  all 
summer,  and  all  winter,  too,  if  you  will  remain — 
and  your  friend,  also,"  with  a  bow  to  Brandon. 

"  You  see  how  it  is,  Brandon,"  said  Parkington. 
"  Stay  a  week,  and  you  will  stay  the  summer.  Bet 
ter  depart  before  the  allurements  get  too  strong. 
I  warn  you;  I  lingered  overlong." 

"  You  make  it  very  tempting,"  returned  Bran- 


LONG-SWORD  AGAIN  247 

don.  "  Almost  thou  persuadest  me  to  try  the 
hazard — and  to  lose." 

An  hour  later,  the  party  broke  up  and  separated. 
Parkington  and  Brandon  bade  the  rest  farewell, 
and  went  slowly  up  Church  Street  to  the  Reynolds 
Tavern,  where  Brandon  lodged. 

"  Now,"  said  Parkington,  "  may  be  you  will  tell 
me  what  scheme  of  folly  brings  you  here?  Have 
you  not  run  dangers  enough?  " 

"  I  am  surveying  the  province  with  the  idea  of 
settling  down,"  was  the  mocking  reply. 

The  other  laughed,  shortly.  "  I  think  you  may 
be  gratified — via  the  gallows.  Why,  man  alive, 
suppose  you  run  upon  Jamison  or  Marbury,  and 
they  recognize  you?" 

"  Pooh !  Sir  Charles  Brandon,  the  friend  of  Sir 
Edward  Parkington  recognized  as  Long-Sword  the 
Pirate?  Impossible,  monsieur!  impossible!" 

Parkington  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  Well, 
your  head  must  bear  the  penalty  of  error,  if  you 
are  detected — but  it  is  foolishness  to  chance  it." 

"  I  have  taken  shorter  chances  and  always  won." 

"  I  was  never  so  amazed,  in  my  life,  as  when  you 
walked  into  the  Coffee-house,"  said  Parkington. 
"  My  face  must  have  shown  it." 

"  It  did,"  laughed  Brandon.  "  For  a  moment, 
I  thought  you  were  going  to  sing  out,  *  Long- 
Sword!  Long-Sword!'" 

"  And  I,  '  what  if  he  calls  me  De  Lysle?  »  " 


248  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  Then  I  rendered  you  a  most  important  ser 
vice — one  that  should  settle  all  doubt  on  the  sub 
ject  of  your  indentity — if  it  arise.  Not  a  man, 
around  that  table,  will  ever  believe  you  anything 
else  than  Parkington.  Your  surprise,  at  seeing 
me,  was  too  genuine  to  be  assumed ;  and  my  address 
ing  you  as  Parkington,  too  spontaneous  to  have 
been  prearranged."  He  laughed  softly.  "  We  to 
gether  will  make  a  fine  pair  of  knaves,  De  Lysle." 

"  We  do — we  can  vouch  for  each  other — and 
you,  being  the  real  Sir  Charles  Brandon,  can  vouch 
for  me,  even  though  I  am  denounced  by  one  who 
knew  the  real  Parkington. — But  I  do  not  exactly 
see  how  it  is  to  help  me  if  I  want  to  change  back 
to  my  own  name.  In  fact,  it  looks  to  me,  Brandon, 
as  if  it  has  complicated  matters.  However,  another 
time  for  that.  Tell  me  how  you  happen  to  be 
daring  fate  here,  in  Annapolis,  instead  of  on  the 
ocean,  faring  safely  back  to  England?  " 

"  There  is  not  much  to  tell,"  Brandon  answered. 
"  I  opened  the  irons,  and  got  away,  shortly  after 
the  ship  was  quiet — about  four  bells,  I  think.  The 
guard  outside  saw  me,  just  as  I  was  within  reach. 
I  was  forced  to  put  his  own  knife  in  him,  to  keep 
him  from  yelling  and  disturbing  the  slumbers  of 
the  crew,  and,  incidentally  my  own  escape.  I  had 
locked  the  irons,  after  they  were  off,  and  thrown  the 
key  down  the  companion  way;  it  would  look,  to 
Jamison,  as  if  he  had  lost  it.  After  that,  it  was 
easy  to  drop  overboard,  and  swim  ashore. 


LONG-SWORD  AGAIN  249 

"  Once  there,  I  made  my  way  straight  back  into 
the  country,  and  was  twenty  miles  inland,  when 
day  broke.  A  stranger,  with  a  broken  collar-bone, 
is  fairly  well  marked,  so  I  avoided  habitations  and 
mankind.  For  three  days,  I  lay  concealed  in  the 
forest,  subsisting  on  berries  and  wild  fruits;  then, 
I  ventured  on — and  chanced  upon  a  hut,  deserted  of 
man,  but  with  a  litter  of  wild  pigs  as  tenants.  I 
remained  there  for  four  weeks,  living  on  the  pigs, 
while  my  shoulder  knit.  When  it  was  healed,  suffi 
ciently  not  to  betray  me,  I  proceeded  northward, 
eventually  reaching  Frederick.  There,  I  put  up  at 
Charlton's  tavern  and  refitted — having  abundant 
money,  thanks  to  you,  and  the  fact  that  they  had 
not  deprived  me  of  my  own  when  captured.  That 
accomplished,  I  rode  here,  with  my  servant,  whom 
I  hired  in  Frederick,  to  take  ship  to  England. 
I  arrived  late  this  afternoon,  to  find  no  ship  sailing 
for  ten  days." 

"  Why  did  you  come  here,  rather  than  go  to 
Alexandria,  or  York  ?  "  said  Parkington.  "  Was 
it  not  a  useless  risk?  " 

"  My  friend,"  said  Brandon,  "  I  have  found,  in 
some  years  of  adventuring,  that  one  experiences  the 
least  danger  where  one  has  reason  to  anticipate  the 
most.  Neither  Marbury  nor  Jamison,  I  think,  is 
in  Annapolis — but,  if  they  were,  and  ventured  to 
denounce  me  as  Long-Sword,  what  evidence  have 
they  to  substantiate  their  claim  ?  Their  word,  only. 


250  THE  IMPOSTOR 

Against  it,  is  your  knowledge  that  I  am  Sir  Charles 
Brandon,  and  my  papers,  which  are  regular." 

"  But  if  I  had  not  been  here?  " 

"  I  had  but  to  demand  that  I  be  brought  before 
you — I  knew  you  were  somewhere  within  distance. 
Oh,  it  was  decidedly  safest  for  me,  here.  Besides,  I 
wanted  to  see  Annapolis. — De  Lysle,  why  not  come 
back  with  me?  The  Marbury  girl  is  not  for 
you " 

"  She  is  not?  " 

"  No — and  you  are  not  for  her.  The  son  of  the 
Earl  of  Doncaster  does  not  mate  with  a  Colonist. 
It  may  seem  pleasant  enough,  now,  in  the  warm 
weather,  with  the  country  life  we  all  love  then. 
But  wait  till  London  and  its  charms  begin  to  call." 

"  You  do  not  know  all,"  was  the  answer.  "  I 
am  a  fugitive  from  justice — two  felonies  were  over 
looked;  the  third  was  the  breaking  straw,  and  the 
Earl  disowned  me,"  and  he  told  the  story. 

"  Bosh !  "  said  Brandon,  at  the  end.  "  You  were 
angry — the  Earl  was  angry,  (and,  properly,  so) 
and  the  ship  sailed  before  he  cooled,  or  you  had  time 
to  show  repentance.  Come  home  with  me.  It  is 
the  easiest  way,  all  around.  Stay  here,  and,  sooner 
or  later,  the  real  Parkington  will  arise  from  his 
grave  to  plague  you.  You  cannot  explain — no  ex 
planation,  with  a  dead  man  and  a  grave  in  it,  will 
be  accepted.  The  story  will  not  down — and  even 
though  you  do  marry  Miss  Marbury,  and  she 
knows  the  truth,  she  will  always  doubt  you.  For 


LONG-SWORD  AGAIN  251 

my  part,  I  fail  to  see  how  you  are  to  shift  names, 
and  hope  to  stay  in  Maryland.  To  my  mind,  you 
must  masquerade  always,  or  move  on.  So,  why  not 
move  on — to  England?  Your  sire's  anger  will 
have  had  time  to  cool.  You  throw  yourself  on  his 
mercy — promise  to  sin  no  more.  And,  behold!  the 
returned  prodigal  and  the  fatted  calf ! " 

"  You  paint  a  pretty  picture ! "  was  the  laugh 
ing  answer ;  "  but  you  do  not  know  the  Earl  of 
Doncaster.  There  is  about  as  much  chance  for  my 
forgiveness,  as  there  is  for  you  to  become  King." 

"  A  trifle  overstated,"  returned  Brandon ;  "  there 
is  no  chance,  whatever,  of  Parliament  altering  the 
succession  in  my  favor." 

"  And  no  chance,  whatever,  of  the  Earl  altering 
the  judgment  he  has  passed." 

"  You  are  hard  to  convince,"  said  Brandon. 
"  Yet  why  not  make  the  effort  ?  The  family  may 
be  done  with  you,  as  he  said,  but,  unless  you 
offend  again,  the  prosecution  is  not  likely.  More 
over,  you  must  not  overlook  the  fact,  that  there  are 
only  two  lives  between  you  and  the  title." 

"  Two  lives,  when  I  left  England — with  another 
coming,  and  a  sister-in-law  who  promises  to  be  as 
prolific  as  a  rabbit.  Oh,  no !  I  have  no  chance  for 
the  title — my  brother  and  his  wife  will  take  good 
care  of  that." 

"  Well,  come  with  me,  anyway,"  Brandon  urged. 
"  Granting  all  that  you  say,  it  is  better  than  living 
under  another  man's  name — and  your  father  is  not 


252  THE  IMPOSTOR 

immortal.  Or,  if  I  cannot  persuade  you  to  return, 
then  go  to  some  other  Colony,  under  your  own 
name,  or,  at  least,  under  no  other  man's,  and  settle 
down." 

De  Lysle  laughed.  "  I  like  the  danger  of  it,  just 
as  you  liked  the  danger  that  was  Long-Sword's." 

"  But,  having  come  to  my  senses,  7  am  going  to 
get  away  from  Long-Sword,  and  become,  once 
more,  a  reputable  member  of  society." 

"  You  can  go  back — you  have  never,  to  society's 
knowledge,  broken  with  her.  You  simply  disap 
peared.  Society  knows  me,  however,  for  a 
criminal." 

"  Society  has  a  short  memory — she  has  forgotten, 
long  ago." 

"  Well,  I  have  ten  days  to  consider  before  your 
ship  sails,"  said  De  Lysle. 

"  And  will  you  consider — honestly  consider?  " 
asked  Brandon. 

"  I  will — or  I  will  play  you  whether  I  go  or 
whether  I  stay." 

"Still  the  gambler!"  commented  Brandon. 
"  Well,  if  it  come  to  the  pinch,  we  will  play — but 
what  is  the  good  in  playing — except  on  the  voyage 
home?" 


XVI 

THE    CRESCENT    AND    THE    STAR 

WHITEHALL,  the  country  residence  of  Governor 
Sharpe,  lay  on  the  banks  of  the  Chesapeake,  about 
ten  miles  north  of  Annapolis. 

It  was  originally  part  of  the  Colonel  Greenberry 
estate,  and  was  willed  by  him  to  St.  Margaret's 
Church,  Westminster  Parish.  Colonel  Sharpe, 
when  he  decided  to  make  his  home  permanently  in 
America,  purchased  it,  after  considerable  difficulty 
with  the  vestry,  and  proceeded  to  erect  thereon, 
three  years  before,  a  most  commodious  and  hand 
some  mansion. 

The  large  central  house,  of  English  brick,  square 
and  of  two-and-a-half  stories, ,  stands  on  a  slight — 
a  very  slight — eminence,  from  which  a  long  espla 
nade  of  velvety  lawn,  set  with  flowers  and  shrub 
bery,  led  down  to  the  blue  waters  of  the  Bay,  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  distant. 

It  was  but  one  room  in  depth,  and  three  in  width 
— the  entrances  from  the  Bay  and  the  land  sides, 
being  into  a  large  middle  room,  which  served  as 
both  reception  and  living  room — with  the  dining- 
room  on  the  one  side  and  the  drawing-room  on  the 
other.  They  all  had  great,  high  ceilings,  beauti 
fully  carved,  with  cornices,  mantels  and  doorways 
to  match,  and  panelled  walls,  set  off  by  soft-toned 

253 


254  THE  IMPOSTOR 

hangings.  And  over  the  fire-place  in  the  dining- 
room,  hung  a  portrait  of  the  Governor,  himself, 
in  the  red  dress-uniform  of  a  Lieutenant-Colonel 
of  the  20th  Foot. 

(It  hangs  there  to-day — just  as  he  left  it  when 
he  returned  to  England,  and  gave  Whitehall  to 
John  Ridout,  his  Secretary — showing  a  tall  man, 
and  a  heavy,  with  a  high  forehead,  and  fine,  well- 
bred  face,  of  a  florid  complexion,  and  grave  eyes 
that  searched  without  repelling. 

He  was  a  good  man,  in  a  measure  a  great  man, 
and,  yet,  he  failed.  Not  signally,  as  most  of  our 
governors  of  Colonial  days,  but  failed,  none-the- 
less.  It  was  no  easy  thing  to  handle  the  people  of 
Maryland,  at  the  period  of  the  beginning  of  the 
breaking,  yet  he  was  popular  as  no  other  governor 
was  popular,  even,  in  America.  He  was  Comman 
der-in-chief  of  the  Colonial  forces,  in  the  French 
War,  and,  for  far  less  services,  he  should  have  re 
ceived  the  well  deserved  reward  of  Knighthood,  and 
a  pension — the  pension,  at  the  very  least,  ought 
to  have  been  forthcoming.  Instead — nothing:  not 
even  his  Sovereign's  thanks.  He  did  his  full  duty, 
and  much  more — but  he  failed.  What  was  the 
reason?  Possibly,  somewhere,  among  the  musty 
records  of  the  Colonial  office,  there  is  an  explanation 
— possibly,  some  cabinet  minister  was  unfriendly — 
possibly,  the  young  King  was,  even  then,  exhibiting 
his  narrowness  and  his  bigotry.  Who  can  tell !) 

The  tall  pillars,  which  now  mark  the  entrance  on 


THE  CRESCENT  AND  THE  STAR    255 

the  Bay-side,  were  not  in  the  original  construction 
— Governor  Sharpe  never  saw  them;  and  his  race 
track  and  the  servants'  quarters,  which  he  placed 
on  the  level  ground  to  the  rear,  beyond  the  wide 
sweep  of  turf,  have  vanished.  The  dungeons  re 
main,  however,  beneath  the  main  house,  and,  in  one 
of  the  wings  of  the  mansion,  the  Colonel's  quarters 
are  practically  unchanged. 

It  was  a  fine,  old  place,  typical  of  Maryland  and 
Annapolis,  in  the  days  of  the  Colony — of  her 
lavishness  and  good  cheer,  her  hospitality  and  her 
courtesy,  her  gallantry  and  her  fame.  Those  days 
have  ended — the  Eastern  and  the  Western  Shores 
know  no  more  the  life  that  once  was  theirs.  Their 
glory  has  departed — their  sun  has  set.  White 
hall,  and  all  its  fellows,  are  but  the  waifs  of  a  dead 
past. 

It  was  otherwise,  however,  on  this  August  morn 
ing,  in  the  year  of  Grace  1766.  The  Governor 
was  in  presence — and  all  that  life,  and  action, 
and  a  master-hand  could  effect,  were  in  evidence. 

His  excellency  had  been  down  to  the  race  track, 
for  an  early  morning  inspection.  The  horses  had 
been  put  through  the  paces,  under  his  own  eyes — 
and  blame  and  praise  were  given  indiscriminately. 
He  had  a  rare  gift  for  picking  the  faults  and  the 
perfections  in  their  training,  and  he  let  censure 
fall  where  due — nor  minced  his  words. 

"  I  tell  you,  Maynadier,  Hanover  promises  well, 
damned  well,  indeed !  "  he  said.  "  He  has  the  wind 


256  THE  IMPOSTOR 

and  the  legs  of  the  best  of  them,  or  I  miss  my  guess. 
Sir  Edward  Parkin gton  is  no  mean  judge  of  horse 
flesh;  he  has  seen  the  fleetest  we  have  at  home,  and 
he  says  Hanover  is  the  king  of  them  all." 

"  I  hope  he  is,  Colonel,"  said  Maynadier.  "  You 
know,  I  have  nothing  entered  against  him." 

"  And  j  oily  well  glad  you  may  be,  my  boy  1 " 
exclaimed  the  Colonel.  "  You  will  have  the  delight 
of  seeing  me  win,  and  the  pleasure  of  not  seeing 
yourself  beaten.  Speaking  of  Parkington,  what  is 
this  I  hear  of  his  attentions  to  Miss  Marbury, 
and  having  a  notion  to  settle  in  Maryland.  You 
are  more  intimate  with  the  Marburys  than  any  one 
else,  is  there  any  truth  in  it  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  know — on  that  score,  Miss  Marbury 
has  not  taken  me  into  her  confidence." 

The  Governor  regarded  him  questioningly. 

"  Why  do  you  not  marry  the  girl  yourself?  "  he 
demanded,  abruptly.  "  Give  Rose  Hill  a  mistress — 
it  needs  one." 

"  I  will  not  gainsay  that  it  needs  one,"  said 
Maynadier,  with  an  amused  smile. 

"  Neither  will  you  gainsay  that  Judith  Marbury 
would  fill  the  place,  admirably.  There  is  style  and 
breeding  abo^t  that  girl,  Maynadier.  I  like  her 
much,  damned  much!  Why  should  she  marry  an 
Englishman?  Sir  Edward  is  all  right,  I  suppose — 
but  he  has  only  his  manners  and  Baltimore's  letters 
to  vouch  for  him.  And  not  much  credit  in  the  let 
ters,  God  knows ! " 


THE  CRESCENT  AND  THE  STAR    257 

Maynadier  was  puzzled.  Could  it  be  the  Gover 
nor  was  not  aware  that  Parkington  was  not  Park 
ington? — was  he  not  in  the  secret? — was  he  being 
imposed  on,  also? 

"  Sometimes,  I  have  thought,"  he  ventured,  "  that 
Parkington  is  not  quite  what  he  seemed — that  he 
is  playing  a  part." 

"Playing  a  part!"  Colonel  Sharpe  ejaculated. 
"  I  do  not  understand." 

Maynadier  looked  at  him,  a  moment,  in  silence. 

"  You  do  not  understand?  "  he  asked,  slowly. 
"  Do  you  honestly  mean  it?" 

"  Mean  it !  Of  course  I  mean  it.  What  do  you 
mean?  " 

"  Have  I  permission  to  speak  plainly?  " 

"  You  have,"  said  the  Governor — "  right  from 
the  shoulder.  What  is  it?  " 

"  Is  it  possible,  sir,  you  do  not  know  that  Sir 
Edward  Parkington  is  an  assumed  name — that  this 
man  is  not  Parkington?  " 

The  Colonel  stared  at  him,  incredulously. 

"  Not  Parkington?  "  he  marveled.  "  Not  Park 
ington?  " 

Maynadier  bowed.  "  To  my  certain  knowledge, 
not  Parkington." 

"  But  his  letters — they  were  authentic — they 
were  in  Baltimore's  own  hand ! " 

"  I  do  not  dispute  them,"  said  Maynadier,  "  but 
I  have  met  Sir  Edward  Parkington,  in  Lon 
don " 

17 


258  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"And  this  is  not  he?" 

"  This  is  not  he. — The  true  Parkington  is  quite 
the  reverse  of  this  man.  He  is  short,  stout,  ruddy, 
and  bald." 

"  You  know  this  as  a  fact — of  your  own  knowl 
edge?  "  demanded  the  Colonel. 

"  I  do.  I  saw  Sir  Edward  Parkington  a  number 
of  times.  I  talked  with  him  at  least  twice,  at 
White's.  Moreover,  he  was  an  intimate  of  Balti 
more.  I  cannot  be  mistaken — unless,  of  course, 
there  be  two  of  the  name,  which  is  unlikely." 

"  Decidedly  unlikely,"  the  Governor  agreed.  He 
took  a  turn  back  and  forth  on  the  grass.  "  When 
did  you  know  this?  "  he  asked,  suddenly. 

"  From  the  moment  I  saw  him." 

"  And  why  did  you  not  disclose  it — why  did  you 
keep  silent  ?  " 

"  It  was  at  the  races,  the  day  after  he  arrived. 
I  saw  you  bring  him  up  and  present  him  to  Miss 
Stirling;  a  little  later,  when  I  met  him,  and  was 
given  his  name  as  Parkington,  I  assumed  there  was 
some  reason  for  it — when  I  heard  of  his  letters,  I 
was  sure  of  it.  It  was  no  affair  of  mine,  I  thought, 
to  meddle  in  affairs  of  State.  You  had  vouched 
for  him — that  was  sufficient." 

The  Colonel  nodded.  He  dug  his  stick  into  the 
turf  and  considered. 

"  It  is  a  bit  awkward,"  he  said.  "  He  has  been 
accepted,  by  the  Province,  on  the  strength  of  my 


vouchment — and  I  introduced  him  on  the  strength 
of  his  letters — and  the  letters  are  authentic " 

"  Hence  he  is  authentic !  "  laughed  Maynadier. 

"  I  am  justified  in  so  assuming,"  the  Colonel 
continued.  "  On  the  other  hand,  I  can  have  him 
thrown  out  as  an  impostor,  and  proclaim  him  as 
such — but,  what  is  the  profit?  The  man  is  plainly 
of  the  class  he  masquerades ;  he  has  borne  himself, 
naturally,  as  one  of  them ;  he  has  committed  no  im 
proprieties. — I  am  at  a  loss  what  to  do — whether 
to  demand  an  explanation,  or  to  let  things  rest, 

for  the  present If  I  thought  he  would  soon 

depart,  I  should  be  tempted  to  do  nothing.  And, 
yet,  where  did  he  get  those  letters? — Did  the  real 
Parkington  give  them  to  him  for  a  purpose?  did 
he  steal  them  ?  or  is  not  Parkington  in  it,  at  all — is 
it  some  of  Baltimore's  doings  ?  "  He  threw  up  his 
hands,  in  doubt. 

"  There  is  the  gentleman,  now,"  said  Maynadier, 
who  was  standing  facing  the  house.  "  He  is  com 
ing  this  way." 

The  Governor  turned,  and  watched  him  approach. 

"  Hum !  damned  fine  looking ! "  he  muttered. 
"  He  could  give  the  real  Parkington  all  the  weight, 
and  then  beat  him  in  a  canter.  Confound  it,  May 
nadier,  I  like  the  fellow !  " 

"  So  do  I,"  said  Maynadier.  "  You  cannot  help 
liking  him.  He  has  the  qualities  that  appeal  to  a 
man — there  are  a  certain  dash,  and  verve,  and  light- 
heartedness  about  him  that  are  very  taking." 


260  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  The  compliments  of  the  morning  to  your  Ex 
cellency — and  to  you,  Mr.  Maynadier,"  said  Park 
ington,  with  a  graceful  bow — "  and,  if  I  may,  to 
the  horses,  as  well." 

"  A  man  is  known  by  the  company  he  keeps, 
as  Governor  Ogle  said,  when  he  built  the  stable  in  his 
front  yard,  on  King  George  Street ! "  laughed 
Colonel  Sharpe. 

"  He  was  a  true  sportsman,"  said  Maynadier. 
"  His  horses  and  his  dogs  next  after  his  family. 
It  was  the  sure  sign  of  his  British  blood." 

"  Colonel  Sharpe,"  said  Parkington,  presently, 
'*  I  want  to  ask  a  favor  ?  " 

"  It  is  granted,  before  it  is  asked." 

"  Which  is  a  trifle  rash,  sir ;  I  may  ask  for  a 
hundred  guineas." 

"  They  will  be  forthcoming,  if  you  do." 

"  I  will  not  impose  on  good  nature,"  smiled 
Parkington.  "  But  what  I  do  want,  is  your  permis 
sion  to  go  to  Annapolis,  and  bring  back  a  friend, 
Sir  Charles  Brandon,  who  came  two  days  ago.  He 
would  have  paid  his  respects  sooner,  to  your  Ex 
cellency,  but  the  Assembly  took  all  your  time." 

"  Go,  by  all  means ! "  said  the  Governor ;  "  but 
you  should  have  informed  me  of  his  intended  com 
ing,  so  I  could  have  had  him  down." 

"  I  did  not  know  he  was  closer  than  London," 
Parkington  protested,  "  until  he  walked  into  the 
Coffee-house,  the  other  night,  and  found  me — and 
he  was  as  surprised  as  I." 


THE  CRESCENT  AND  THE  STAR    261 

"  Bring  him  down ! "  said  the  Colonel,  heartily. 
— "  Take  the  pinnace  and  bring  him  down. — How 
long  does  he  expect  to  stay  in  Annapolis?" 

"  Until  the  next  ship  sails  for  England." 

"  Good — it  will  be  a  pleasure  to  have  him." 

"  I  did  not  mean  to  ask  for  an  invitation 
for " 

"  Tut !  tut !  we  shall  be  delighted.  A  visiting 
Englishman  is  a  boon — like  yourself." 

Parkington  turned  back  to  the  house.  Colonel 
Sharpe  watched  him,  until  he  disappeared  through 
the  doorway,  then,  he  swung  around  toward 
Maynadier. 

"  Either  the  plot  grows  thicker,  or  else  it  is 
cleared  altogether.  Either  there  are  two  Sir  Ed 
ward  Parkingtons  or  else  Brandon  is  an  abettor  of 
the  impostor.  Well,  we  will  wait  and  see." 

As  they  went  slowly  in,  Constable  overtook  them. 
He  had  been  down  at  the  far  end  of  the  track,  put 
ting  a  green  hunter  over  the  jumps. 

"  Constable !  "  said  Colonel  Sharpe,  "  have  you 
ever  met  Sir  Charles  Brandon,  Parkington's 
friend?" 

"  Yes — I  was  at  the  Coffee-house  with  Parking- 
ton,  the  other  night,  when  Brandon  walked  in. 
They  were  too  astonished,  for  a  moment,  to  speak. 
Then  it  was : '  Parkington,  on  my  soul ! '  *  Brandon, 
by  all  that's  holy ! '  It  was  a  very  pretty  meeting 
— such  genuine  friendship." 


262  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"Hum!"  with  a  look  at  Maynadier.  "  Well, 
we  are  going  to  have  him  here.  Parkington  has 
gone  up  in  the  pinnace  for  him." 

"  Brandon  is  a  particular  friend  of  Sir  Ed 
ward?  "  asked  Maynadier. 

"  If  you  had  seen  the  meeting,  you  would  have 
thought  so !  "  laughed  Constable.  "  Not  effusive, 
mind  you — just  genuine,  pleased  surprise.  The 
sort  I  should  have,  if  I  were  to  meet  Paca,  unex 
pectedly,  in  London." 

"  It  will  be  safe  to  put  them,  then,  in  the  same 
room?  "  the  Colonel  observed. 

"  I  should  judge  so — though  Herford  and  I  will 
move  out,  if  you  want  to  give  him  a  separate  room." 

"  By  no  means !  By  no  means ! "  said  the 
Colonel,  heartily. — "  Well,  what  do  you  make  of 
it  ?  "  when  Constable  had  gone  on.  "  He  addressed 
him  as  Parkington,  and  the  meeting  seems  to  be  a 
mutual  surprise.  Pretty  fair  evidence,  besides  his 
own,  that  he  is  the  genuine  Sir  Edward,  is  it  not  ?  " 

"  Yes,  it  is !  "  said  Maynadier,  slowly ;  "  but  not 
conclusive.  I  should  like  to  know,  whether  they  had 
met  before,  and  arranged  this  Coffee-house  affair." 

The  Governor  thought  a  moment.  "  It  is  pos 
sible — it  depends  on  when  Brandon  arrived  in  An 
napolis,  and  whether  Parkington  had  an  oppor 
tunity  to  see  him.  I  will  dispatch  a  man,  at  once, 
to  investigate." 

Later  in  the  day,  he  summoned  Maynadier  to  his 


THE  CRESCENT  AND  THE  STAR    263 

rooms.  His  coat  and  waistcoat  were  off,  and  he 
was  enjoying,  at  his  ease,  his  long-stemmed  pipe. 
He  motioned  Maynadier  to  one,  also,  and  waited 
until  he  had  filled  and  lighted  it. 

"  I  have  investigated,"  he  said,  "  and  there  was 
no  collusion,  no  pre-arrangement  of  the  meeting. 
Brandon  arrived  in  Annapolis,  at  Reynolds'  Tavern, 
about  seven  o'clock  that  evening,  from  Frederick, 
he  had  supper,  and  then  retired  to  his  room,  where 
he  remained  until  near  eleven.  He  then  went  out, 
walking  in  the  direction  of  Church  Street — when 
he  returned,  an  hour  or  so  later,  Parkington 
accompanied  him." 

"  And  Parkington  ?  "  said  Maynadier. 

"  I  left  him,  after  supper,  at  my  house,  to  go 
to  the  State  House. — Old  Moses,  my  butler,  says  he 
remained  in  the  drawing-room,  reading,  until  a 
little  after  ten,  when  he  left,  to  go  to  the  Coffee 
house.  And  Sparrow  says,  he  reached  there  about 
half-after-ten." 

"  He  was  not  to  Reynolds'  Tavern  in  the  mean 
time?  "  Maynadier  asked. 

"  No — in  that  point  Reynolds  is  very  positive. 
He  says  that  Brandon  had  no  visitors  in  the 
evening." 

"  Then,  there  must  be  two  Sir  Edward  Parking- 
tons,  and  both  friends  of  Baltimore,"  said  May 
nadier.  "  It  is  entirely  possible,  of  course,  but 
most  unlikely." 


264  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  You  still  hold  to  it  that  we  are  entertaining 
an  impostor?  "  asked  the  Governor. 

"  No — not  exactly — I  am  ready  to  be  convinced 
either  way.  In  the  interim,  I  should  let  the  letters 
decide.  He  presented  them  and  they  are  genuine; 
they,  and  his  conduct,  will  have  justified  your 
recognition." 

"  His  conduct  has  been  quite  exemplary — I  have 
have  not  heard  anything  but  the  best  reports  of 
him.  He  does  not,  even  at  times,  drink  to  excess; 
he  does  not  gossip ;  and  he  pays  his  debts  without 
being  dunned,  which  is  much  to  his  credit.  He 
borrowed  two  hundred  pounds  from  me,  after  his 
arrival — having  lost  everything  in  the  shipwreck, 
you  remember — and  repaid  it,  the  other  day,  im 
mediately  upon  his  return  to  Annapolis.  And  he 
apologized  for  keeping  it  so  long.  Damned  decent, 
I  call  it!" 

Richard  Maynadier  pulled  on  his  pipe,  and  gazed 
through  the  windows,  across  the  esplanade  to  the 
dock,  where  a  ship  had  just  let  go  her  anchor. 

"  Yes  !  "  he  said,  "  yes  !  decidedly  decent. — It  is 
a  pity  some  of  our  young  men  do  not  emulate  him." 
His  eyes  came  back  to  the  Governor's.  "  Do  you 
happen  to  have  any  of  the  money  handy,  sir?  " 

"  You  mean,  the  money  he  paid  me  ? — I  will  lend 
it  to  you  gladly,  Maynadier." 

"  I  do  not  want  to  borrqw,  thank  you,  Colonel," 
was  the  smiling  answer.  "  I  want  simply  to  see  it 
— the  coins,  I  mean." 


THE  CRESCENT  AND  THE  STAR    265 

The  Governor  turned  to  his  writing  desk,  un 
locked  a  drawer,  and,  taking  out  a  bag,  passed  it 
over. 

"  It  is  just  as  he  gave  it  to  me,"  he  said;  "  in 
deed,  I  did  not  even  count  it,  I  took  it  on  faith. — 
You  do  not  think  he  tricked  me,  Maynadier  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no — not  you.     I  want  to  see " 

He  emptied  the  gold  into  a  shining  heap,  on  the 
table  before  him,  and  spread  it  out  with  his  hands. 
There  were  guineas,  pistoles,  and  Spanish  doub 
loons,  in  all,  making  up  the  two  hundred  pounds. 

"  I  want  to  see  if  there  are  any  pieces  which 
might  be  remembered — any — with — Ah !  " — he 
picked  out  a  doubloon,  with  a  star  and  a  crescent  cut 
deep  upon  its  face.  "  I  wonder  if  Marbury  can  by 
any  chance  recall — I  beg  your  pardon,  Colonel! 
Marbury  had  some  gold  stolen  during  the  house- 
party,  at  Hedgely  Hall.  He  kept  no  list,  but  he 
might  recognize  this  one,  it  is  sufficiently  distinctive, 
Surely." 

The  Governor  blew  a  cloud  of  smoke  toward  the 
ceiling  and  watched  it  slowly  vanish. 

"  You  think  that  Parkington  may  be  guilty  ?  " 
he  said — "  that  we  may  catch  a  thief,  as  well  as  an 
impostor?  Very  good!  you  have  added  a  motive 
for  his  imposition.  If  you  can  prove  it,  we  will 
give  the  sheriff  a  job  with  the  halter.  Where  is 
Marbury  ?  " 

"  He  was  in  Annapolis,  yesterday — he  came  that 


266  THE  IMPOSTOR 

far  with  the  young  people.  I  will  go  up  and  see 
him." 

"  No — I  will  send  for  him. — I  suppose  there  was 
card  playing  at  Hedgely  Hall?  " 

"  Every  night,  while  I  was  there,  and  I  take  it 
every  night." 

"  Then,  even  if  Marbury  recognizes  the  coin,  it 
will  prove  little,  for  Parkington  can  say  he  won 
it  at  cards." 

"  True,"  said  Maynadier ;  "  but  the  coin,  being 
in  his  possession,  raises  a  presumption  against  him, 
which  he  will  have  to  lift  by  more  than  merely  say 
ing,  '  it  was  won  at  cards.'  The  trouble,  however, 
is,  that  Marbury  may  refuse  to  help — he  is  averse 
to  stirring  up  trouble  which  may  result  in  nothing. 
In  fact,  he  told  no  one  but  me  of  the  theft. — I  think 
it  would  be  better  if  I  went  to  Annapolis — and 
I  will  go  at  once." 

An  hour  later,  his  barge  ran  into  the  landing  at 
the  foot  of  Marbury's  garden,  and  he  went  straight 
up  to  the  house,  which  stood  on  Duke  of  Gloucester 
Street. 

Marbury,  himself,  came  down  the  steps  to  wel 
come  him. 

"  Why,  Maynadier !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  this  is  a 
pleasant  surprise — I  thought  you  were  at  his  Ex 
cellency's." 

"  I  am  just  from  Whitehall,"  said  Maynadier. 
He  glanced  around.  "  Can  we  be  overheard?  " 


THE  CRESCENT  AND  THE  STAR     267 

Marbury  shook  his  head,  "  I  am  alone,  except  for 
one  servant,  and  he  is  gone  off  until  supper." 

Maynadier  put  his  hand  in  his  pocket,  and  drew 
out  the  doubloon. 

"  Do  you  recognize  this  gold  piece  ?  "  he  asked, 
without  preliminary. 

Marbury  took  it — looked  at  it,  carefully,  an  in 
stant — then  answered. 

"  I  do — it  is  the  one  piece  I  recall  seeing,  when 
I  counted  the  pirate's  gold.  It  did  not  occur  to 
me  before — but,  now,  I  remember  it.  It  was  the 
last  piece  in  one  of  the  bags. — Yes,  I  recollect 
the  star  and  crescen,t,  perfectly.  Where  did  you 
get  it?" 

"  From  his  Excellency,  Governor  Sharpe,"  said 
Maynadier. 

"  And  from  whom  did  he  get  it  ?  " 

"  From  Sir  Edward  Parkington." 

"  He  is  sure?  " 

"  Perfectly — it  was  a  repayment  of  two  hundred 
pounds  he  had  borrowed,  and  was  still  in  the  bag, 
uncounted.  This  was  the  one  coin,  of  them  all, 
which  I  thought  you  might  have  noted." 

"  And  you  assume  that  Parkington  is  the  thief?  " 
asked  Marbury. 

"  At  least,  it  acquits  your  servants." 

"  I  never  thought  them  guilty." 

"  And  it  calls  for  an  explanation  from  Sir  Ed 
ward,"  Maynadier  said. 


268  THE  IMPOSTOR 

Marbury  considered — frowning  down  at  his 
heavy  shoes,  the  while. 

"  I  am  not  disposed  to  go  further  into  it,"  he 
said,  at  length.  "  I  regret  that  I  did  not  tell  you 
so  more  promptly. — I  have  put  you  to  needless 
trouble. — I  am  very  sorry — I  apologize. — This  was 
a  most  peculiar  thief,  Maynadier,  a  most  peculiar 
thief!  He  returned  the  money,  the  evening  before 
the  house-party  broke — it  was  on  my  desk  when  I 
went  up  to  bed." 

"  And  nothing  with  it,  of  course?  " 

"  Yes ;  a  slip  of  paper,  cut  from  some  book,  was 
pinned  to  the  bag,  with  these  words  printed  on  it: 
— '  For  this  relief  much  thanks.'  I  shall  drop  the 
matter,  Maynadier." 

"  You  do  not  care  even  to  identify  the  coin  ?  " 

"  No — the  money  has  been  returned,  it  may  not 
have  been  taken  feloniously.  I  shall  prefer  to  be 
lieve  that  it  was  borrowed,  in  view  of  the  prompt 
restoration.  Moreover,  I  am  leaving  for  the  Hall 
on  the  morrow;  I  will  not  bother.  Let  it  rest, 
Maynadier !  let  it  rest !  You  have  some  idea  of 
morals,  or  society,  on  your  mind ;  I  have  not.  That 
it  was  some  of  the  guests,  there  can  be  no  dis 
pute — but,  which  one,  I  care  not  to  find  out.  Park- 
ington,  you  think? — but  there  was  much  money 
changed  hands  around  the  card  table,  and 
he,  I  believe,  was  largely  winner.  So,  pos 
session  of  the  doubloon  is  not  conclusive.  At 


THE  CRESCENT  AND  THE  STAR     269 

the  worst,  it  calls,  only,  for  an  explanation — 
and  I  see  no  profit  even  in  an  explanation;  he 
will  be  leaving  us,  presently,  for  England,  never  to 
return.  Oh !  let  it  rest,  Maynadier !  let  it  rest !  " 

"  My  dear  Marbury,"  said  Maynadier,  "  I  am 
here  for  two  reasons : — first,  because  you  asked  me 
to  inform  you  if  I  found  any  clue " 

"  I  know,  sir — I  apologize  for  my  neglect  to  tell 
you  of  the  restitution." 

"  And,  second,  because  there  has  arisen  another 
question — a  serious  question — with  respect  to  Sir 
Edward  Parkington.  It  will  be  handled  by  the 
Governor,  himself,  if  handled  at  all;  and  I  wanted 
to  know,  whether  he  may  use  your  identification  of 
this  stolen  coin,  if  it  be  deemed  essential?  " 

**  //  it  be  deemed  essential,  I  have  no  objection," 
said  Marbury,  after  a  little  consideration — "  but 
do  not  use  it  unless  it  is,"  he  added.  "  I  would  not 
risk  doing  Parkington  an  injustice,  he  was  un 
usually  courteous  to  me,  and  considerate,  also." 

"  And  you  appreciate  courtesy  and  considera 
tion,"  thought  Maynadier,  "  because  you  have  had 
so  little  shown  you  in  life.  The  public  would  never 
believe  it !  "  What  he  said,  was :  "  I  understand. 
It  will  be  used  only  as  a  last  resort.  Indeed,  Colonel 
Sharpe  may  deem  it  inexpedient  to  meddle  with  the 
matter,  at  all."  He  arose  to  go. 

"  Why  not  remain  for  supper,"  asked  Marbury. 

"  Not  to-night,"  said  Maynadier.  "  I  must  back 
to  Whitehall." 


270  THE  IMPOSTOR 

They  went  down  the  stairs  together ;  at  the  foot, 
Maynadier  suddenly  halted. 

"  Marbury,"  he  said,  "  have  I  your  permission 
to  marry  Judith,  if  she  be  willing?  " 

"  You  have,"  Marbury  answered,  a  gratified  smile 
flashing,  for  an  instant,  across  his  impassive  face — 
"  and  she  is  a  queer  girl,  if  she  does  not  take  you." 
Then  he  laughed.  "  But,  for  the  Lord's  sake ! 
man,  be  a  little  less  sudden  when  you  ask  her.  You 
well  nigh  took  my  breath." 


XVII 

A    LETTER    AND    A    CONFESSION 

SIR  EDWARD  PARKINGTON  and  Sir  Charles  Bran 
don  arrived  at  Whitehall  just  before  supper,  and 
were  greeted  by  the  Governor  and  his  guests  on  the 
esplanade. 

Brandon  was  dignified  yet  affable,  he  was  prop 
erly  appreciative  of  his  Excellency's  courtesy,  a  bit 
diffident  about  imposing  upon  his  hospitality,  and 
thoroughly  considerate  in  everything;  in  short, 
the  well-bred  gentleman — natural,  free  from,  affec 
tations,  and,  apparently,  sincere. 

So  he  impressed  Colonel  Sharpe ;  so  he  impressed 
every  one.  He  would  be  an  addition  to  the  com 
pany,  they  all  agreed,  when  he  and  Parkington  had 
gone  to  their  room  to  dress. 

The  Nelson  was  arrived  that  morning  from  Eng 
land,  and  the  Governor's  mail  had  been  sent  down 
by  the  pinnace.  In  the  bag,  were  several  communi 
cations  for  Miss  Stirling,  which  he  passed  over 
with  a  jocular  remark.  Excusing  herself,  she  re 
tired  to  a  quiet  corner  of  the  library  to  read  them. 
While  thus  engaged,  Captain  Herford  entered!,  and 
tried  to  engage  her  in  talk ;  but  she  sent  him  away, 
rather  petulantly,  and  then,  hiding  herself  in  a 
window  embrasure,  went  on  with  her  reading. 

Two  of  the  letters  were  of  casual  interest — the 

271 


272  THE  IMPOSTOR 

doings  of  the  writers  on  their  country  estates — and 
were  not  remarkable  either  for  correct  spelling  or 
polished  diction.  The  third  and  last,  however,  was 
of  better  stuff. 

It  was  from  Lady  Catherwood,  written  from 
London, — before  she  had  received  Miss  Stirling's 
letter  to  her,  of  course — and  had  in  it  much  gossip, 
a  little  scandal,  and,  then,  just  before  the  close, 
was  this : — 

"  There  is  an  interesting  Piece  of  Gossip,  which 
I  all  but  forgot  to  tell  you.  It  seems,  Lord  Balti 
more  has  tired  of  certain  Gentlemen,  who  are  his 
particular  Toad-eaters,  and  has  taken  Means  to  get 
rid  of  them. 

"  One  has  gone  to  Maryland,  with  letters  of  In 
troduction  to  the  Governor,  your  Uncle,  trusting 
to  make  his  way  with  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Colony, 
and,  incidentally,  to  make  as  much  Money  off  them 
as  they  will  permit — which,  I  Dare  say,  will  not 
be  Excessive,  for  a  more  Unattractive  little  Rogue 
it  would  be  hard  to  find  outside  a  jail.  He  is  small, 
and  fat,  and  bald,  and  is  scarcely  ever  Sober,  when 
he  has  some  one  to  pay  for  the  Liquor;  and,  natur 
ally,  he  is  a  Vile  little  Beast  m  other  ways — Com- 
prenez  vous?  A  thoroughly  disreputable  fellow, 
Catherwood  says,  and  one  whom  Baltimore  ought 
to  be  Ashamed  to  send  his  Colony;  but  Baltimore  is 
not  Ashamed  of  anything,  save  leading  a  decent 
life. 


A  LETTER  AND  A  CONFESSION      273 

*'  I  give  you  this,  for  your  own  Information — not 
because  I  think  there  is  any  likelihood  of  your  fall 
ing  a  Victim  to  Sir  Edward's  wiles — but  to  warn 
you,  and  also  Colonel  Sharpe,  if  you  think  well  to 
Meddle  in  his  business.  The  name  of  this  wretch  is 
Sir  Edward  Parlcington " 

Martha  Stirling  read  the  last  line  thrice,  to 
make  sure  she  saw  aright. 

"  Sir  Edward  Parkington !  "  she  reflected — "  is 
small,  and  fat,  and  bald,  and  scarcely  ever  sober! 
and  a  vile  little  beast  in  other  ways — Comprenez 
vous?  Yes,  my  dear,  I  comprehend.  And  what  is 
more,  I  comprehend  that  he  is  not  our  Sir  Edward. 
Between  the  leaving  London  and  the  arrival  at 
Annapolis,  there  was  a  change  of  men. — But  the 
letters  of  introduction  are  the  same — how  did  they 
happen  to  change  hands? 

She  sat  a  while,  thinking  deeply.  Should  she  tell 
the  Governor?  Should  she  preserve  the  secret,  tell 
no  one?  Should  she  demand  the  truth  of  Park 
ington  himself,  and  let  his  story  determine  her  fu 
ture  action?  She  heard  him  and  Brandon  descend 
the  stairs,  and  go  out  on  the  esplanade.  Brandon ! 
he  knew  the  secret — he  knew  that  Parkington  was 
an  impostor — he  knew  all.  She  had  heard  Con 
stable's  story  of  the  meeting  at  the  Coffee-house — 
the  surprise  shown.  Bah!  it  was  prearranged,  de 
termined  upon  beforehand;  a  play,  acted  for  the 
express  benefit  of  the  onlookers. — Should  she  block 
18 


274  THE  IMPOSTOR 

it,  now,  walk  out  and,  before  the  whole  company, 
read  Lady  Catherwood's  letter?  It  would  be  effec 
tive — far  more  so  than  his  play  at  the  Coffee-house. 
In  fact,  it  would  be  conclusive. — Yet,  he  had  always 
been  very  gallant  to  her,  very  devoted,  very  sympa 
thetic.  (She  looked  out  through  the  window.) 
Yes,  and  he  was  a  gentleman,  too.  No  man  had 
such  manners,  such  grace,  such  ease  of  bearing, 
otherwise. 

The  longer  she  looked,  the  more  her  heart  mis 
gave  her.  She  could  not  do  it.  She  would  wait 
until  after  supper,  take  him  for  a  walk,  down  to 
the  water,  and  get  him  to  confess  the  masquerade 
and  the  reason  for  it.  She  refused  to  think  that 
there  was  any  wrong  intended.  He  was  better  than 
the  real  Sir  Edward,  a  thousand  times  better.  And 
she  liked  him — liked  him  more  than  any  man  she 
had  ever  met,  save  only  Richard  Maynadier;  and 
Richard  Maynadier  (she  had  known  it  since  the 
night  he  kissed  her,  at  Hedgely  Hall)  was  not  for 
her.  There  was  no  love  in  his  lips,  though  there 
had  been  plenty  of  ardor. 

A  little  twinge  of  bitterness  took  possession  of 
her.  Why  was  she  born  poor? — why  could  she  not 
have  had  rank  and  riches  instead  of  beauty? 

Presently,  she  saw  the  butler  go  out  and  announce 
supper;  she  arose  and  joined  the  party  as  they 
came  trooping  in. 

She  had  Parkington  and  Brandon  on  either  hand, 
and  she  watched  them,  covertly,  all  through  the 


A  LETTER  AND  A  CONFESSION      275 

meal,  trying  to  pick  some  flaw  in  their  bearing, 
something  that  would  not  be  quite  right  in  their 
behaviour.  But  she  failed — as  she  had  felt  sure 
she  would.  They  had  only  to  be  natural,  to  be 
themselves,  to  ring  true.  Parkington  he  was  not, 
and  Brandon  might  be  false,  also,  but,  assuredly, 
they  came  of  the  stock  they  professed — and,  may  be, 
of  better. 

"  I  have  got  something  to  say  to  you,  when  you 
join  us,"  she  whispered  to  Sir  Edward,  as  the 
ladies  arose  to  retire.  "  Don't  be  overlong." 

"  I  will  come  at  once,"  he  said,  as  he  drew  back 
her  chair. 

"  No — in  a  half  hour.  I  will  be  down  in  the  rose- 
walk,  you  may  join  me  there." 

"  On  the  instant !  "  he  exclaimed — and  watched 
her  as  she  went  slowly  down  the  table,  flinging  a 
bantering  word,  here  and  there,  the  men  bowing, 
and  smiling,  and  flinging  it  back  again. 

"  Yes,  you  may  well  look  at  her,"  said  Brandon. 
"  She  has  the  beauty  and  grace  of  the  best  of  them 
at  Court.  She  is  the  Governor's  niece,  I  take  it?  " 

Parkington  nodded.  "  But  she  is  poor — and, 
I  think,  has  a  little  too  much  morals  to  get  on  at 
Court." 

"  She  will  not  let  her  face  and  figure  purchase  her 
place,  you  mean?  I  see. — You  have  decided  to  ge 
home  ?  "  he  asked  suddenly. 

"  I  am  strongly  tempted,  Brandon,  strongly 
tempted." 


276  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"And  do  you  want  to  be  sure  of  the  old  Earl's 
forgiveness  ?  " 

"  I  should  not  refuse  it,"  said  Parkington, 
smiling. 

"  Then,  marry  Miss  Stirling — she  can  wheedle 
him,  I  warrant;  and,  besides,  he  will  be  forced  to 
admit  that  you  have  given  some  evidence  of  reform 
by  doing  it." 

"  And  Miss  Stirling,  shall  I  carry  her  off  by  force 
and  marry  her,  or  simply  drug  her ! "  laughed 
Parkington. 

"  Neither — tell  her  the  truth.  I  will  be  much 
surprised,  if  she  does  not  jump  at  the  chance  to  get 
the  son  of  the  Earl  of  Doncaster,  even  though  he 
is  not  the  heir.  Moreover,  man,  she  is  fond  of  you ; 
one  did  not  need  to  do  more  than  see  her  at  table, 
this  evening,  to  appreciate  it." 

"  You  are  fertile  of  schemes,"  was  the  answer. 

"  I  am — and  they  are  usually  good  schemes ;  it 
is  an  indispensable  requisite  of  the  pirate  business." 

Parkington  drew  over  the  port,  and  replenished 
his  glass. 

"  But  it  risks  everything  on  the  Earl,"  he  ob 
jected.  "  If  he  refuse  to  be  lenient — if  he  prose 
cutes?" 

"  He  will  not." 

"  I  must  think  over  it — and,  then,  marriage  is  a 
serious  question,  my  friend,  a  serious  question ! " 

"  Is  it  any  more  serious  to  marry  Miss  Stirling, 
than  it  is  to  marry  Miss  Marbury  ?  "  asked  Brandon. 


A  LETTER  AND  A  CONFESSION      277 

"  Well,  in  the  one  case,  my  mind  was  made  up." 

"  How  about  the  lady's  mind?  " 

"  I  admit  I  do  not  know." 

"  Was  it  she  in  blue  and  pink,  at  the  other  end 
of  the  table?  " 

"  The  same — she  sat  next  to  Constable." 

Brandon  laughed  lightly,  "  I  am  a  stranger, 
here,"  he  said,  "  but  there  is  only  one,  in  this  com 
pany,  who  has  any  attraction  for  her: — the  tall, 
grave,  exceedingly  good-looking  man  of  middle 
age  across  the  table.  Maynadier,  I  think  the 
Governor  called  him." 

"  He  is  only  a  friend  of  the  family — the  best 
friend,  likely — nothing  more.'* 

"  I  am  not  answering  as  to  him,"  said  Brandon. 
"  You  are  not  thinking  of  marrying  Mr.  Mayna 
dier,  I  take  it."  He  pushed  back  his  chair  with  the 
others,  and  arose.  "  Consider  it — sound  Miss  Stir 
ling — See  if  she  be  likely  to  accept.  At  any  rate, 
I  tell  you,  again,  Miss  Marbury  is  not  for  you — 
and  neither  is  residence  in  Maryland." 

"  Very  good — I  shall  sound  her,  and  tell  you  how 
it  appears.  I  have  an  appointment  with  her,  now," 
said  Parkington. 

On  the  way  out,  Miss  Marbury  hailed  him. 

"  Come  here ! "  she  said,  with  pretty  peremptori- 
ness.  "  Come  here,  and  tell  me  how  you  are — I  have 
not  seen  you  for  a  long,  long  time." 

"  And  my  days  have  been  dreary  as  winter  in 


278  THE  IMPOSTOR 

consequence,  full  of  rain  and  melancholy,"  replied 
Parkington. 

"  Then,  cheer  up,  Sir  Mournful — the  sun  is  shin 
ing;  you  may  bask  in  its  rays  a  while." 

He  offered  her  his  arm. 

"  To  the  Bay  and  back  again?  "  he  asked. 

"  Why,  back  again  ?  "  she  laughed. 

"  Because  I  thought  it  the  only  way  to  get  you. 
But,  if  you  will,"  (bending  down)  "  it  shall  be  to 
Annapolis  and  St.  Anne's  Rector,  ere  we  come  back 
again." 

She  looked  up  at  him  with  merry  eyes — a  charm 
ing  picture  in  the  moonlight. 

"  Let  us  first  go  to  the  Bay,"  she  said ;  "  per 
haps,  we  shall  not  care  to  go  farther." 

And  Martha  Stirling,  from  the  rose-walk,  saw 
them  go.  And  surprise  grew  slowly  to  amaze 
ment,  and  then — as  the  minutes  fled,  and  they  re 
turned  not — the  surprise  changed  into  anger,  sharp 
and  sudden.  And  she  left  the  rose-walk,  and 
hastened  to  the  Governor. 

She  found  him  in  his  apartment,  in  converse  with 
Richard  Maynadier.  Both  men  arose,  when  she  en 
tered,  and  the  latter  made  a  move  to  retire.  She 
stopped  him. 

"  Just  a  moment,  Mr.  Maynadier,"  she  said — "  I 
want  only  to  give  this  letter  to  Colonel  Sharpe. 
It  contains  some  information  which  it  seems  well  he 
should  have  at  once. — It  is  from  Lady  Catherwood, 
sir,"  she  added ;  f*  it  came  this  evening,  and,  though 


A  LETTER  AND  A  CONFESSION      279 

only  a  woman's  letter,  this  part,"  (indicating) 
"  will  prove  very  interesting  reading." 

She  handed  the  letter  to  him,  shot  Maynadier  a 
bewitching  smile,  dropped  them  both  a  curtsy,  and 
was  gone. 

"  Your  pardon,  a  moment !  "  said  the  Governor. 
....  At  the  end;  he  passed  the  letter  across  to 
Maynadier,  and  his  face  was  troubled. 

"  Miss  Stirling  was  right,"  he  said.  "  But  it  is 
more  than  interesting — unfortunate,  I  should  term 
it." 

Maynadier  read  it  carefully  before  answering — 
then,  he  put  it  slowly  down. 

"  What  course  will  you  pursue  ? "  he  asked. 
"  The  evidence  is  all  but  conclusive,  now." 

The  Governor  sent  cloud  after  cloud  of  smoke 
ceiling-ward. 

"  I  shall  demand  an  explanation,"  he  replied ; 
"  lay  down  the  proofs,  and  give  him  a  chance  to 
disprove;  and  do  it  quietly — there  is  no  need  to 
proclaim  my  error." 

"  You  are  not  at  fault — the  letters  were  authen 
tic,"  said  Maynadier. 

"  Possibly  not — but  I  shall  bear  the  blame,  never 
theless,  of  having  made  the  imposition  possible.  I 
do  not  like  it !  Maynadier,  I  do  not  like  it !  If  I 
thought  he  would  depart  with  Brandon,  I 

would "  he  broke  off  and  shook  his  head  in 

indecision.  "  He  has  done  no  one,  so  far  as  we 
know,  an  injury — other  than  to  enter  their  houses 


280  THE  IMPOSTOR 

under  a  false  name.  He  has,  even  then,  compen 
sated  for  his  entertainment  by  his  genialness  and 
his  courtesy.  It  will  raise  a  nasty  scandal,  and 
accomplish  no  real  good.  If  there  were  any  crime, 
for  which  he  was  responsible,  it  would  be  quite  dif 
ferent.  I  grant  you,  he  played  cards  for  a  high 
stake,  and  usually  with  success,  but  no  one  accuses 
him  of  cheating — and  there  were  those  who  were 
willing  to  play." 

"  And,  in  addition,  you  like  him !  "  laughed  May- 
nadier. 

"  Yes,  I  like  him — I  reckon  that  does  influence 
my  judgment." 

"  But  the  fact  remains,  that  he  is  not  Sir  Edward 
Parkington.  How  will  you  answer,  if  it  ever 
become  known — even  after  he  has  departed?  *  I 
knew  it,'  or,  '  I  did  not  know  '  ?  " 

"  I  knew  it." 

"  Then,  how  explain  your  failure  to  unmask 
him?" 

"  I  should  decline  to  explain,"  said  the  Governor. 

"  Such  would  be  your  privilege.  I  admit  the 
matter  (as  it  appears  now)  is  purely  one  of  ethics, 
and  expediency — and  there  are  things  to  be  said 
on  both  sides." 

"  How  would  you  decide  it,  Maynadier  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  know — I  am  glad  it  is  not  necessary 
that  I  decide  it." 

Colonel  Sharpe  flung  his  pipe  on  the  table,  scat 
tering  the  hot  ashes  broadcast. 


A  LETTER  AND  A  CONFESSION      281 

"  Damn  it !  Maynadier,  I  do  not  know  what  to 
do !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  I  shall  put  it  off  until  morn 
ing;  sleep,  sometimes,  solves  problems." 

Maynadier  arose.  "  And  Miss  Stirling,"  he  said 
— "  she  will  not  disclose  what  is  in  the  letter?  " 

"  No — but  to  make  sure,  I  will  caution  her,  at 
once,"  and,  seizing  his  cane,  he  hurried  out. 

"  Where  have  you  been,  sir  ?  "  Miss  Marbury  in 
quired,  as  Maynadier  came  face  to  face  with  her 
in  the  drawing-room  doorway. 

"  Not  where  I  wanted  to  be,"  he  said. 

"And  where  is  that?" 

"  Where  I  am,  now." 

"  A  very  pretty  place,"  she  answered,  with  a 
glance  around ;  "  but  I  should  think  one,  out  of 
doors  on  such  a  night,  were  vastly  preferable." 

"  With  you  in  it?  "  he  asked. 

She  seemed  to  hesitate,  watching  him,  the  while, 
through  half -closed  eyes. 

"  If  you  wish,  sir — wait  until  I  get  a  fan 

Now,  I  am  ready." 

"  I  may  select  the  place?  "  he  said. 

"  You  may,"  laughing ;  "  will  it  be  in  the  centre 
of  the  party,  or  just  to  one  side?  " 

"  A  little  to  one  side,"  he  answered — "  by  as  far 
as  the  Bay  is  from  the  house." 

"  Goodness,  Dick,  you  are  growing  very  venture 
some — next  you  will  be  inviting  me  to  go  where 
Sir  Edward " 

"  Yes,"  he  said—"  where  Sir  Edward?  " 


282  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  No — no,  that  would  be  telling." 

"  You  used  to  tell  me  everything,"  he  said. 

"  Yes — before  I  grew  up  and  put  on  the  ways  of 
society." 

"  And  how  long  has  that  been  ?  " 

"  Since  the  last  night  of  the  party  at  Hedgely 
Hall,"  she  answered. 

"  You  mean,  since  you  saw  me  kiss  Miss 
Stirling?  " 

"  Perhaps." 

"  It  was  a  mistake,  I  admit  it !  " 

"  A  mistake  to  be  caught  ?  "  she  laughed.  "  I 
grant  it." 

"  Yes — a  mistake  to  be  caught — and  a  mistake 
to  kiss  her." 

"  Only  when  you  have  been  caught !  No !  no ! 
Dick,  you  cannot  make  me  think  it  ever  a  mistake 
to  kiss  a  pretty  girl — and  the  girl  be  willing." 

"  You  have  learned  the  ways  of  society  very 
thoroughly." 

"  I  have  had  excellent  teachers." 

"  Teachers  ?  "  he  inflected — "  there  have  been 
more  than  myself?  " 

"  Monsieur!  am  I  a  pretty  girl?  Think  you  that 
I  have  never  been — that  no  one  has  ever  wanted  to 
kiss  me  ?  " 

"  You  cannot  do  it,  Judith !  "  he  laughed. 

"Cannot  do  what?  " 

"  Make  me  believe  that  any  one  ever " 


A  LETTER  AND  A  CONFESSION      283 

"  Wanted  to  kiss  me?  Thank  you,  Mr.  Mayna- 
dier !  "  with  a  toss  of  her  head. 

"  No,  that  any  one  ever  kissed  you — until  this 
moment." 

And  straightway  he  took  her  in  his  arms. 

She  pushed  him  from  her,  at  last,  and  sprang 
back. 

"  Just  what  do  you  mean,  sir?  "  she  demanded — 
"  just  what  do  you  mean?  " 

She  was  making  a  desperate  effort  to  appear 
indignant. 

"  Mean  ?  "  he  exclaimed,  "  you  know  what  it 
means!  Judith,  you  love  me,  don't  you,  sweet 
heart?" 

"  Am  I  to  take  that  as  a  proposal?  "  she  asked. 

"  Surely,  dear " 

"  Then,  do  you  not  think,  sir,  it  would  be  a  trifle 
more  appropriate  to  confess  your  own  feelings, 
rather  than  to  inquire  as  to  mine  ?  " 

"  But  you  know  I  love  you !  " 

"  You  have  never  taken  the  trouble  to  tell  me." 

"My  lips  told  you?" 

"  I  did  not  hear  them." 

"  When  I  kissed  you?  " 

"  I  am  not  familiar  with  the  language,  sir," 
retreating. 

He  stopped. 

"I  love  you,  Judith — will  you  marry  me?"  he 
said,  humbly. 

"  That  is  better,  sir,"  she  replied ;  "  more  accord- 


284  THE  IMPOSTOR 

ing  to  custom.     Have  you  spoken  to  my  father?  " 
"  I  have  his  permission — if  you  are  willing?  " 
She  laughed — a  joyous,  happy  laugh. 
"  Why,  Dick,  I  think  I  have  been  always  will 
ing,"  she  said,  and  went  to  him.     "  It  is  you — who 
— have — not — known." 

The  last  words  were  whispered  and  broken. 

"  You  are  frightfully  hard  on  one's  coiffure, 
dear,"  she  said,  presently,  putting  him  aside,  and 
stepping  back.  "  Did  you  disarrange  Miss  Stir 
ling's  so  completely  ?  " 

He  surveyed  her  critically. 

"  Rather  more  so,  I  think,"  he  answered. 

She  made  a  little  grimace. 

"  You  wretch !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  You  need  not 
have  confessed  it !  " 

"  But  you  wanted  the  truth,"  with  a  sly  smile. 

"  No,  I  did  not  want  the  truth ! — No,  sir !  go 
away — I  will  not!  Not  another  one  until  we  say 
good  night.  Is  it  a  bargain  ?  " 

"  I  suppose  so — yes,  it  is  a  bargain,"  he  replied. 

*'  Very  well,  sir — now,  because  you  are  so  good, 
I  shall  tell  you  a  secret." 

"  A  sugar  plum  for  the  child !  "  he  laughed. 

"  A  man  always  wants  a  sugar  plum  for  being 
good,"  she  reflected. 

"  And  the  secret  ?  "  he  said. 

"  It  has  to  do  with  Sir  Edward  Parkmgton," 
she  answered. — "  We  walked  down  to  the  water, 


A  LETTER  AND  A  CONFESSION      285 

after  supper,  and  he  was — very  devoted,"  (with  a 
sidelong  glance  at  Maynadier). 

"  I  should  hope  so,"  he  remarked. 

"  He  took  my  hand " 

"  Huh !  "  said  Maynadier. 

"  And  commented  on  the  contour  of  my 
cheek " 

"  Huh !  "  said  Maynadier,  again. 

"  And  the  beauty  of  my  hair " 

No  response! 

"  And  the  flawlessness  of  my  complexion " 


A  sarage  cut  at  the  grass,  with  his  walking  stick ! 

"  And  he  was  good  enough  to  say  my  mouth  was 
a  perfect  bow " 

Another  cut  with  the  walking  stick,  more  savage ! 

"  Just  made  for  kisses " 

"  Yes !  "  said  Maynadier,  and  stopped. 

"  And  then, "  she  went  on. 

"  I  suppose  he  kissed  you ! "  Maynadier  ex 
claimed. 

"  No !  "  she  said — "  No,  he  only  proposed — Oh ! 
he  did  it  much  nicer  than  you,  Dick !  No  man  could 
ever  have  done  it  better." 

"And  what  did  you  do?"  said  Maynadier, 
frowning. 

"  What  do  you  think  I  did?  " 

He  made  a  gesture,  signifying  that  she  might 
have  done  anything. 

She  laughed  softly,  and  slipped  her  hand  through 
his  arm. 


286  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  You  are  a  little,  just  a  little  jealous,  dear, — 
confess  it?  "  she  said. 

"  No — I  am  not  exactly  jealous — but,  oh  hang  it ! 
Judith,  what  did  you  do  ?  " 

"  You  remember  the  evening  at  Hedgely  Hall, 
when  you  told  me  that  Sir  Edward  was  not  Sir 
Edward?  "  she  asked.  "  Well,  it  happened  he  had 
been  growing  a  little  ardent  about  that  time,  and 
I  thought  I  would  try  an  experiment.  (It  was  not, 
I  reckon,  an  altogether  nice  thing  to  do — but  I 
did  it ;  and  I  am  telling  it  only  to  you,  Dick,  remem 
ber!)  I  drew  him  on — rather,  I  let  him  draw  him 
self  on ;  he  needed  very  little  encouragement.  And 
I  did  it,  because,  it  seemed  to  me,  when  he  proposed, 
he  also  would  have  to  disclose  his  real  name,  and  the 
reason  for  the  masquerade.  Nothing  would  kill  a 
prospect  of  marriage  so  effectively  as  concealment." 

"  That  can  be  true  only  if  he  intended  to  remain 
in  America,"  observed  Maynadier. 

"  And  he  had  already  sounded  me,  tentatively,  on 
that  very  idea,"  she  answered.  "  I  thought  it  was 
all  fol-de-rol,  at  first;  but  I  concluded  differently, 
when  he  deliberately  referred  to  it  several  times, 
and  insisted  that  he  was  considering  it  very  seri 
ously.  At  all  events,  we  played  the  game.  We 
made  fair  progress  at  Hedgely  Hall " 

"  Yes,  I  rather  think  you  did " 

"  Particularly,  when  I  saw  how  rapidly  you  had 
progressed  with  Miss  Stirling,"  she  retorted. — 
"  And  we  did  better  at  Montpelier," — she  went  on — 


A  LETTER  AND  A  CONFESSION      287 

"  and  still  better  at  Sotterly.  But  he  never  quite 
reached  the  point — he  came  up  almost  to  it,  many 
times,  then  veered  off,  as  gracefully  as  ship  before 
the  wind.  I  could  see,  or  thought  I  could,  what 
was  in  his  mind.  He  was  not  quite  sure,  whether 
it  was  safe,  yet,  to  doff  his  borrowed  identity,  either 
because  he  was  not  quite  certain  of  himself,  or 
because  he  was  not  quite  sure  of  me.  Such  was 
the  situation,  when  I  left  Sotterly,  being  called  sud 
denly  to  Hedgely  Hall. 

"  I  did  not  see  him,  again,  until  this  evening — 
and,  at  once,  when  we  started  on  our  walk  after 
supper,  I  noticed  the  change.  He  was  going  to 
declare  himself ;  indeed,  we  had  not  got  to  the  rose- 
walk,  until  he  had  suggested,  in  a  laughing  way, 
that  we  continue  on  to  Annapolis  and  St.  Anne's 

Rectory  on  Hanover  Street When  we  came 

back,  half  an  hour  or  so  later,  I  had  the  story.  He 
did  not  bind  me  to  secrecy.  He  was  the  high-bred 
gentleman  in  that,  as  he  always  has  been  with  me — 
he  even  told  me  I  should  tell  you,  if  I  cared  to  do 
so.  He  assumed  that  you  were — the  one,  Dick. 
And  this  is  his  story: — 

"  He  is  the  son  of  the  Earl  of  Doncaster — a 
second  son.  He  disgraced  himself,  somehow,  and, 
to  avoid  prosecution,  fled  to  this  country.  On  the 
voyage,  he  became  acquainted  with  Sir  Edward 
Parkington — their  ship  went  down,  near  St.  Mary's, 
during  a  storm,  and  all  the  rest  on  board  were  lost. 
He  and  Parkington's  dead  body  were  cast  up  on 


288  THE  IMPOSTOR 

the  sands,  together.  He  took  Parkington's  letters, 
presented  them  to  Governor  Sharpe  as  his  own, — 
and  that  is  all. — He  is  going  back  to  England  with 
his  friend,  Sir  Charles  Brandon." 

"  And  how  did  Sir  Charles "  Maynadier  be 
gan;  then,  he  stopped.  (He  was  about  to  ask, 
how  Brandon,  knowing  his  rightful  name,  yet  called 
him  Parkington  at  the  Coffee-house,  when,  accord 
ing  to  report,  it  was  a  genuine  surprise) — "how 
do  you  know,"  he  amended,  "  that  the  confession  is 
not  false — how  do  you  know  that  he  is  the  son  of 
the  Earl  of  Doncaster,  or  that  Brandon  is 
Brandon?" 

"  I  do  not  knowj"  she  answered — "  more  than 
this :  he  is  a  gentleman — and  I  believe  his  story." 

"  The  tenderness  which  a  woman  always  feels  for 
the  man  who  has  proposed  to  her,"  thought  Mayna 
dier,  looking  down  at  her  with  steady  eyes. 

"  You  are  not  angry,  Dick?  "  she  said. 

He  laughed  joyously. 

"  Angry,  sweetheart !  "  he  said.  "  No  !  no  !  but 
let  us  forget  Parkington,  and  Brandon,  and  all  else, 
and  talk  of  you,  and  Rose  Hill,  and  the  Mistress 
Richard  Maynadier  that  is  to  be." 


XVIII 

THE    BROKEN    RENDEZVOUS 

THE  idea,  of  testing  the  matter  out  with  Miss 
Marbury,  had  presented  itself  so  suddenly,  that 
Parkington  had — he  must  confess  it  to  himself — 
forgotten  for  the  moment,  his  engagement  to  meet 
Miss  Stirling. 

In  truth,  it  did  not  recur  to  him  until  they  had 
returned  from  the  water-front,  after  his  proposal 
was  rejected. 

Instantly,  he  retraced  his  steps,  hoping  against 
hope  that  she  was  still  waiting,  or,  better  still, 
that  she  had  not  kept  the  rendezvous. 

The  first  contingency  failed — the  rose-walk  was 
deserted;  if  Miss  Stirling  had  been  there,  she  was 
gone,  and  he  would  have  to  pay  the  penalty.  The 
other  contingency  was  what  he  prayed  for,  most 
fervently.  When  one  is  about  to  ask  a  woman  to 
be  his  wife,  it  is  unfortunate  if  he  has  to  start  the 
interview  explaining  away  his  short-comings. 

He  strolled  through  the  other  walks — the  peony, 
the  mock-orange,  and  the  golden-rose,  but  without 
success.  She  was  not  in  any  of  them.  He  turned 
back  to  the  house,  a  little  discouraged.  Now,  that 
he  had  decided  to  go  home,  he  had  also  decided 
that  he  wanted  Miss  Stirling  to  go  back  with  him — 
and  this  was  not  a  propitious  beginning. 

19  289 


290  THE  IMPOSTOR 

He  met  Brandon  coming  down  the  steps. 

"  What  success  ?  "  he  said. 

"  You  mean,  with  Miss  Stirling?  "  Parkington 
asked. 

The  other  nodded. 

"  Poor,"     was     the     answer.     "  I     forgot     the 
rendezvous." 
-     "  Have  you  made  your  peace?  " 

"  I  have  not  found  her." 

"  You  are  a  careless  fellow,  De  Lysle — I  saw  you 
go  off  with  Miss  Marbury.  Why  did  you  do  it?  " 

"  To  determine  whether  I  wanted  to  remain  in 
Maryland." 

"  And  you  determined?  " 

"  Yes !  "  with  a  faint  laugh.  "  I  determined  to 
go  back." 

Brandon  slipped  an  arm  through  his,  and  led 
him  down  to  the  esplanade. 

"  You  proposed  to  Miss  Marbury,  I  assume  ?  " 
he  said. 

"  I  did." 

**  And  she  refused  you !  " 

"  She  did." 

"  And  you  told  her,  in  your  infatuated  ignorance, 
that  you  are  not  Parkington — that  you  are  an 
impostor?  " 

"  I  did." 

Brandon  smiled,  mockingly. 

"  She  will  not  repeat  it,"  Parkington  averred. 

"  Think  you  so?  "  said  Brandon.     "  Well,  I  have 


THE  BROKEN  RENDEZVOUS         291 

not  the  trust  in  womankind  which  you  seem  to  have 
suddenly  acquired.  The  sooner  our  ship  sails,  now, 
the  better." 

"Wherefore?" 

"  For  several  wherefores — where  was  your  head, 
man,  that  you  should  have  been  guilty  of  this  folly? 
She  will  not  keep  your  secret — the  woman  is  not 
born  who  could  keep  a  secret  so  interesting.  She 
will  babble.  And,  then,  trouble.  Think  you,  they 
will  believe  your  present  story?  Having  once  con 
fessed  to  living  a  lie,  you  are  a  liar  always — they 
will  suspect  whatever  you  tell.  You  might  prove 
you  are  a  De  Lysle  by  the  best  of  legal  evidence,  and 
they  would  doubt  you,  still.  And  it  will  not  stop 
with  you.  They  will  question  my  identity  as  well: 
I  will  not  be  Sir  Charles  Brandon  because  you 
sponsored  me.  I  am  a  suspicious  character.  I 
must  account  for  myself.  And  that  may  lead  to  the 
Jolly  Roger  and  the  scaffold.  For  this  knowledge 
and  suspicion  will  be  not  among  the  people,  in  gen 
eral,  but  with  the  greatest  power  in  the  Province: 
the  Governor  himself.  And,  though  he  is  an  easy 
going,  kindly  gentleman,  he  can,  I  doubt  not,  be 
stern  as  death,  if  the  occasion  requires.  You  have 
violated  his  hospitality  and  his  vouchment;  I  have 
accepted  his  hospitality,  and  must  now  prove  my 
right  to  it  or  be  kicked  out — I  must  hang  like  a  dog, 
if  discovered." 

"  All  of  which,"  said  Parkington,  "  is  predicated 
upon  Miss  Marbury  telling — in  addition,  you  will 


292  THE  IMPOSTOR 

have  to  be  identified.  And  the  identification  will 
be  due  solely  to  the  fact  that  you  and  Long-Sword 
are  the  same  individual — a  condition  for  which  you 
alone  are  responsible.  And  I  might  further  remind 
you,  that  I  had  nothing  to  do  with  your  coming 
to  Annapolis — you  rather  complicated  my  affairs 
by  appearing,  as  I  told  you  at  the  time." 

"  Well,  do  not  let  us  quarrel,"  said  Brandon. 

"  Lord !  man,  I  have  no  idea  of  quarreling ! " 
laughed  Parkington. — "  It  may  have  been  a  serious 
indiscretion  to  tell  Miss  Marbury,  doubtless  it  was 
— but  the  fat  is  in  the  fire,  now,  and  we  must  make 
the  best  of  it.  I  may  have  weakened  the  authority 
of  my  identification  of  you,  but  nothing  more.  The 
Governor  may  be  suspicious,  but  he  cannot  possibly 
connect  you  with  Long-Sword.  Marbury  and 
Jamison  are  the  only  ones  who  might  do  it,  and  they 
are  not  likely  to  encounter  you." 

"  We  will  forget  it,"  said  Brandon — "  borrowing 
trouble  only  makes  it  the  bigger  when  it  comes. 
Nevertheless,  I  wish  there  were  a  ship  sailing  for 
home,  to-morrow.  Well,  a  man  can  die  but  once, 
thank  God! — Do  you  intend  to  see  Miss  Stirling 
to-night?" 

"  Yes — I  am  searching  for  her,  now." 

"  And  you  will  tell  her  the  truth?  " 

"  Only  part  of  it — enough  to  test  her.  One 
woman  is  like  another,  according  to  your  estimate, 
so,  she  shall  know  who  I  am,  but  not  what  I  am — 


THE  BROKEN  RENDEZVOUS         293 

that  I  am  a  son  of  the  Earl  of  Doncaster,  but  not 
that  I  am  in  disgrace  and  disowned." 

"  You  will  stand  a  better  chance  for  trust  with 
Miss  Stirling.  She  is  an  Englishwoman — she 
would  likely  keep  an  Earl's  son's  secret." 

"  Why  should  I  not  wait  until  your  ship  has 
sailed,  before  I  tell  her — then,  if  she  babbles,  it 
will  not  affect  you  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  Brandon ;  "  since  you  have  told  it 
to  Miss  Marbury  you  must  tell  it  to  the  other.  I 
supposed  you  would  test  Miss  Stirling  first — see 
what  your  chances  were — work  up  to  it,  gradually. 
Then,  if  all  seemed  propitious,  confess  just  before 
we  sailed.  If  she  accepted  you,  all's  well;  if  she 
refused  you,  we  should  be  gone  ere  she  could  bab 
ble.  I  never  dreamed  that  you  would  confide  in 
Miss  Marbury. — It  is  a  beautiful  scene,  Parking- 
ton,  a  beautiful  scene ! "  he  exclaimed,  suddenly,  as 
a  step  sounded  behind  them.  "  Ah,  Captain  Her- 
ford!" 

"  I  am  looking  for  Miss  Stirling,"  the  Captain 
explained.  "  The  Governor  wants  her." 

"  I  have  not  seen  her,"  Brandon  replied. 

"  Nor  I,  since  supper,"  said  Parkington. 

Half  an  hour  later,  when  Miss  Stirling  came 
downstairs  from  the  Governor's  apartments,  it  was 
to  find  Sir  Edward  Parkington  sitting  on  the  lowest 
step.  He  arose  and  bowed. 

"  I  have  been  waiting,"  he  said. 

"  For  what?  "  she  asked. 


294  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  For  you." 

"  You  give  yourself  unnecessary  trouble,  sir." 

"  I  give  myself  a  pleasure." 

She  stepped  by  him,  and  proceeded  on  her  way. 

He  followed,  through  the  drawing-room,  and  the 
room  beyond,  and  out  to  the  rear  piazza.  Here, 
he  sprang  forward,  and  offered  her  his  arm. 

"  I  thank  you,"  she  scorned ;  "  I  do  not  need  your 
assistance." 

At  the  second  step,  the  high  heel  of  her  slipper 
caught,  she  stumbled,  and  would  have  fallen,  had 
not  Parkington  interposed. 

He  held  her  a  moment,  then  released  her. 

"  I  thank  you !  "  she  said  stiffly,  and  went  slowly 
down. 

"  May  I  go  along?  "  he  asked,  all  the  while,  keep 
ing  step  with  her. 

She  did  not  answer. 

"  Miss  Stirling,  I  addressed  you,"  he  said. 

Still  no  answer. 

"  Thank  you ! "  he  replied.  "  You  are  very 
kind." 

She  stopped  and  looked  him  over,  disdainfully. 

"  You  have  misinterpreted,  sir,"  she  said.  "  I 
have  no  intention  to  be  kind — silence,  in  this  in 
stance,  does  not  give  consent." 

"  What  have  I  done  ?  "  he  asked. 

She  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

"  I  went  to  the  rose-walk — I  waited — you  did 
not  come." 


THE  BROKEN  RENDEZVOUS         295 

"  When  ?  "  she  inquired. 

"  At  the  time  appointed — before  it,  indeed." 

"  And  I  was  not  there?  " 

"  I  could  not  find  you." 

"  You  waited  for  me  ?  " 

"  At  least  half  an  hour." 

"And  I  did  not  come?" 

"  Alas !  no." 

She  laughed  derisively.     "  Why  do  you  tell  me 
such  nonsense?  " 

"  Nonsense !  "  he  said.     "  Nonsense !  " 

"  Lies  would  be  the  more  fitting  term." 

"  I  do  not  understand." 

"  No — there  is  your  trouble ;  you  do  not  know 
if  I  kept  the  rendezvous,  so  you  play  it  as  if  you 
did!" 

"  As  if  I  did !  "  he  repeated. 

She  laughed  again.  "  I  suppose  you  will  be 
averring  that  you  do  not  understand  me." 

He  bowed.     "  Pray  explain,"  he  said. 

"  It  is  for  you  to  explain.  I  kept  the  rendezvous ; 
you  did  not." 

He  tried  to  look  his  surprise.  "  You  kept  the 
rendezvous  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  kept  the  rendezvous ;  while  you,  sir,  went 
strolling  to  the  Bay  with  Miss  Marbury — nor 
ever  thought  to  cast  even  one  look  toward  the 
rose-walk."  . 

There  could  be  no  profit  in  prevaricating  further. 


296  THE  IMPOSTOR 

He  was  caught,  and  the  quickest  way  out  was  to 
admit  it. 

"  I  did,"  he  said  humbly.     "  I  did." 

"  Why  did  you  not  acknowledge  it,  at  first  ?  " 
she  questioned. 

"  I  thought,  perhaps,  you  also  had  forgotten." 

She  looked  at  him,  searchingly. 

"  Did  you  really  forget?  "  she  asked. 

"  As  God  is  my  witness ! — until  we  were  return 
ing,  I  never  thought  of  it.  Then,  as  soon  as  I 
could  leave  Miss  Marbury,  I  hastened  to  the  rose- 
walk,  and  found  it — deserted." 

"  It  is  a  fine  gentleman,"  she  exclaimed,  "  who 
forgets  one  appointment,  when  another,  more  to  his 
taste,  intervenes !  " 

"  I  protest  that  you  are  unjust,"  he  said.  "  I 
forgot,  I  admit,  but  I  did  it  unwittingly  and  not  of 
intention." 

"  Even  that  is  unforgettable." 

"  But  it  is  not  unforgiveable,"  he  pleaded. 

She  shook  her  head,  and  moved  on,  slowly. 

"  But  it  is  not  unforgiveable,"  he  repeated. 

"  No,  it  is  not  unforgiveable,"  she  said ;  "  but — 
we  will  say  no  more  about  it,  for  the  present. 
Whether  I  can  forgive  you,  will  depend  on  the  fu 
ture — there  is  still  another  matter  which  will  require 
explanation,"  and  she  looked  at  him,  thoughtfully. 

"  Another  matter?  "  he  interrogated — "  that  re 
quires  explanation,  from  me?  " 

"  I  think  so." 


THE  BROKEN  RENDEZVOUS         297 

"  And  will  it  call  for  your  forgiveness,  too  ?  " 

"  I  cannot  answer,"  she  said. 

A  puzzled  frown  appeared  between  his  eyes. 
"  Does  that  mean,  you  cannot  or  you  will  not." 

"  It  means,  I  cannot — it  depends  upon  your  ex 
planation  ;  and  whether  it  be  asked  for." 

"  Then  the  explanation  is  not  to  be  made  to 
you?" 

"  No ! " 

"  To  whom  is  it  to  be  made  ?  "  he  asked. 

She  shook  her  head.  "  That  will  be  disclosed, 
presently." 

"  To-night  ?  "  he  persisted. 

"  It  will  not  be  to-night." 

"  Then,  we  will  forget  it ! "  he  said,  gayly. 
"  The  morrow  may  care  for  itself — it  will  be  soon 
enough  when  it  comes.  We  will  fancy  these  trees 
the  rose-garden — I  am  keeping  a  belated  rendez 
vous  with  you."  He  swept  the  turf  with  his  hat. 
"  What  do  you  wish  of  me,  my  lady?  " 

"  It  is  too  late,"  she  answered.  "  What  I  wished 
of  you,  I  wish  no  more.  It  has  passed  from  my 
hands — it  is  beyond  me." 

He  was  sobered,  instantly.  She  could  mean  only 
that  it  had  passed  into  the  Governor's  hands — but 
what  ? — Suddenly,  he  understood  a  part. 

"  I  see,"  said  he,  "  you  wanted  to  give  me  a  chance 
to  explain;  you  appointed  the  rendezvous,  and  I 
failed  you.  Then,  in  your  reasonable  and  just 
anger,  you  told  the  Governor." 


298  THE  IMPOSTOR 

She  did  not  reply,  but  he  knew  that,  thus  far, 
he  was  right.  His  mind  ran  quickly  back  over  the 
months  that  had  passed  since  he  came  to  Annapolis : 
he  had  cheated  but  rarely  at  cards — and  not  at  all 
at  the  house-parties — he  had  led  a  thoroughly  re 
spectable  life,  trifled  with  no  woman,  victimized 
no  man.  There  was  only  one  thing  that  met  him, 
insistently  and  always:  the  theft  of  the  gold  at 
Hedgely  Hall;  and  it,  he  had  returned. — Unless — 
unless,  by  some  queer  misadventure,  she  had  received 
a  letter  from  home,  which  aroused  her  suspicion  of 
his  identity.  And  there  had  come  letters  to  her, 
before  supper — the  pinnace  brought  them  down. — 
It  was  not  Marbury's  gold,  Marbury  was  not  at 
Whitehall  denouncing  him.  No,  it  must  be  a  letter ! 

"  I  had  a  letter  from  home,  to-day,"  he  said. 

She  started ;  and  he  knew  he  had  guessed  it. 

"  From  home — did  it  contain  much  gossip  ?  "  she 
asked. 

"  Enough  to  hurry  me  back — I  shall  return  with 
Sir  Charles  Brandon." 

"  Bad  news?  "  she  inquired. 

He  smiled.  "  That  depends  on  the  way  one  looks 
at  it." 

He  drew  a  little  closer.  It  were  best  to  lose  no 
time,  now;  if  his  imposture  had  been  detected,  the 
best  way  to  meet  it,  was  by  confession,  before  the 
Governor  could  act.  It  would  go  far  to  sustain 
his  story,  if  he  should  tell  it,  voluntarily,  before  he 
knew  (apparently)  that  any  one  suspected  him. 


THE  BROKEN  RENDEZVOUS        299 

"  Miss  Stirling,"  he  said,  looking  off  into  the  dis 
tance,  "  we  do  queer  things  in  this  world,  and  we 
travel  queer  paths,  sometimes — but  we  usually,  once 
in  our  lives,  at  least,  come  back  to  the  simple  truth 
and  the  plain  path.  I  have  come  to  them,  now." 

He  fell  to  drawing  diagrams  in  the  grass  with  his 
walking-stick,  tracing  them  over  and  over,  while 
he  let  her  wonder  what  was  in  his  mind.  Presently 
he  spoke  again,  seemingly  with  much  feeling,  his 
eyes  now  hard  upon  her  face. 

"  I  am  going  to  make  a  confession,"  he  said — 
"  whether  it  is  a  good  one  or  a  bad  must  rest  with 
you ;  but  for  you  it  would  not  be  made. — I  am  not 
Sir  Edward  Parkington." 

"  So  I  am  aware,"  she  answered. 

*'  What!  you  knew?  "  he  cried,  with  well  feigned 
amazement. 

"  Since  this  evening." 

"  But  how  ?  "  he  protested.  "  How  did  you 
know?  " 

"  I  had  a  letter  from  Lady  Catherwood,  in  Lon 
don.  She  mentioned  Sir  Edward  Parkington's  com 
ing  to  Annapolis — and  described  him.  The  descrip 
tion  does  not  tally,  in  the  least,  with  you." 

("  It  is  this  letter  which  she  has  given  to  the 
Governor,"  he  thought.  "  Why,  the  devil !  did  I 
forget  the  rendezvous?") 

He  laughed.  "  As  far  apart  as  the  poles." 
Then  he  sobered.  "  My  rightful  name,  Miss  Stir- 


300  THE  IMPOSTOR 

ling,  is  Roger  de  Lysle.  I  am  the  second  son  of  the 
ninth  Earl  of  Doncaster." 

"  Is  this  identity  any  more  stable  than  the 
other?  "  she  asked,  after  a  pause. 

"  It  is — though  I  cannot  blame  you  for 
doubting." 

"  How  did  you  come  by  the  letters  of  intro 
duction?  " 

"  Parkington's  dead  body  was  cast  up  on  the 
sands  beside  me.  I  took  his  letters,  and,  in  a  fit 
of  foolishness,  presented  them  to  Governor  Sharpe 
— my  own  having  been  lost  in  the  sea." 

"  And  why  do  you  tell  this  story  to  me?  "  she 
inquired. 

"  To  set  myself  right  with  you.  I  shall  go  back 
to  England,  and  no  one  else  will  ever  know  that  it 
was  not  Sir  Edward  Parkington  who  sojourned 
among  them." 

"  And  why  should  I  concern  you — why  wish  me  to 
know  it  and  the  others  not." 

"  Because  I  love  you,"  he  answered.  "  From  the 
first  day  I  met  you,  I  have  loved  you." 

"  And  why,  sir,  has  it  taken  you  so  long  to  tell 
it  ?  "  she  asked,  after  a  pause. 

"  I  would  not  admit  it,  even  to  myself,  until  the 
time  for  separation  drove  me  to  it." — He  slipped 
his  arm  around  her,  and  drew  her  to  him. 
"  Martha ! — sweetheart ! — come  home  with  me?  "  he 
whispered. 


THE  BROKEN  RENDEZVOUS         301 

A  moment  she  yielded,  then  abruptly  released  her 
self.  May  be  he  loved  her,  and  she  loved  him  as 
well  as  she  could  any  man,  but  that  was  neither  here 
nor  there.  If  he  were  a  De  Lysle — she  would  marry 
him;  love  was  not  essential.  But  was  he  a  De 
Lysle  ? 

"  You  must  realize,"  she  said,  "  that  whether 
I  love  or  whether  I  do  not,  I  can  not  marry  you 
without  further  proof  of  your  real  identity." 

"  Sir  Charles  Brandon  will  vouch  for  me,"  he 
answered. 

"  You  forget,  that  it  was  you  vouched  for  him." 

"  True — but  he  has  documents  which  will  prove 
him  Sir  Charles  Brandon." 

"  And  you  had  the  best  sort  of  documents  to 
prove  you  Sir  Edward  Parkington." 

"  I  do  not  know  what  to  say.  Take  me  on  faith, 
sweetheart." 

"  It  would  be  a  dangerous  experiment ! "  she 
laughed ;  "  to  marry  on  faith,  and  find  you  a  com 
mon  rogue,  when  we  got  to  London." 

"  Do  I  look  a  common  rogue  ?  "  he  smiled. 

She  turned  and  let  her  eyes  move  slowly  over 
him.  He  was  a  brave  figure,  certainly,  in  his  white 
silk  coat  and  breeches — his  cloth  of  silver  waist 
coat — his  slender,  well-shaped  legs — his  dark  hair 
powdered — his  handsome,  aristocratic  face. 

"  No — I  admit  you  appear  of  the  rank  you  claim ; 
and  you  act  it,  too.  But  I  must  have  more  than 
appearances  and  acts." 


302  THE  IMPOSTOR 

He  made  a  gesture  of  resignation  and  defeat. 

"  I  have  done  my  best,"  he  said ;  "  I  am  helpless 
to  do  more — unless  you  will  come  to  London,  and 
marry  me  there,  after  I  have  satisfied  you  of  my 
identity." 

"  You  mean  it?  "  she  demanded.  Here  was  good 
faith. 

"  Unreservedly,"  he  answered.  "  Anything  to 
take  you  back  with  me.  Though  I  would  rather  you 
went  as  wife." 

He  was  doing  his  utmost  to  impress  her — to  have 
her  intervene  with  the  Governor,  and  keep  the  scan 
dal  hid. 

She  hesitated — then  the  truth  came  with  a  rush. 

"The  letter  I  spoke  of,"  she  said— "  Lady 
Catherwood's — I  gave  it  to  his  Excellency  to  act 
on  as  he  saw  fit." 

"  My  God !  "  he  cried.  "  It  will  ruin  me — he  will 
not  excuse." 

"  You  may  thank  the  broken  rendezvous,  if  it 
does,"  she  replied. 

"  That  was  what  you  wished  with  me !  " — he  ex 
claimed — "  and  when  I  did  not  come  you  were 
angry ! — oh !  I  see,  sweetheart — you  do  care,  for  you 
were  jealous."  He  was  playing  the  part  well. 

"  I  do  not  know  why  I  did  it.  I  was  hasty.  I 
repent."  She  sprang  up.  "  I  will  go  to  the  Gov 
ernor — I  will  try  to  undo  it.  Wait  here !  "  and  she 
sped  away. 


THE  BROKEN  RENDEZVOUS         303 

Scarcely  was  she  gone,  when  he  saw  her  returning. 

"  I  cannot  see  him,  to-night,"  she  said — "  he  has 
retired,  it  would  only  harm  our  chances.  In  the 
morning,  I  shall  try  again." 

He  took  her  hand,  and  kissed  it — with  wise  for 
bearance,  he  did  not  try  for  her  lips. 

"  Go ! — we  will  hope  for  the  best,"  he  said.  "  And 
you  may  pray,  as  well,  dear.  The  prayers  of  one's 
beloved  are  not  without  avail." 


XIX 

ARRAIGNED 

BEFORE  breakfast,  the  following  morning,  Colonel 
Sharpe  sent  for  Maynadier. 

"  Sleep  did  it ! "  said  the  Governor.  "  I  have 
made  up  my  mind.  I  shall  give  him  a  chance  to  ex 
plain,  and  upon  his  explanation  will  depend  my 
future  course.  Whether  or  not  I  shall  take  up  the 
matter  of  the  Marbury  money,  we  will  determine 
later." 

"  It  is  a  wise  decision,"  Maynadier  agreed. 

"  I  dare  not  do  less  out  of  consideration  for  my 
position.  He  has  presented  another  man's  letters, 
has  taken  that  other  man's  name,  has  entered  this 
house,  and  the  houses  of  our  friends  under  false 
pretenses.  In  short,  he  has  acted  the  rogue,  and 
he  must  bear  the  consequences." 

"  How  can  he  possibly  explain  ?  "  asked  Mayna 
dier.  "  What  justification  can  there  be  for  his 
conduct  ?  " 

"  None  that  I  can  apprehend — but  we  must  not 
prejudge  him;  we  must  give  him  a  chance.  I  be 
lieve  the  law  has  a  maxim,  that  every  one  is  pre 
sumed  innocent  until  proven  guilty.  You  said,  I 
think,  that  Marbury  was  not  leaving  Annapolis 
until  to-night?  " 

"  So  he  told  me,"  said  Maynadier. 
304 


ARRAIGNED  305 

The  Governor  nodded.  "  I  have  sent  for  him. 
When  he  arrives,  we  will  proceed  with  the  matter — 
the  quicker  it  is  settled  the  better.  It  is  a  nasty 
business,  Maynadier.  I  like  the  fellow,  too,  damn 
well ! — Come  in !  "  he  called,  as  a  knock  sounded 
on  the  door. — "  Ah,  my  dear !  "  as  Miss  Stirling's 
face  appeared,  "  what  got  you  up  so  early  ?  " 

"  I  am  up  so  early  because — Oh !  I  beg  your 
pardon,  Mr.  Maynadier.  I  thought  the  Governor 
was  alone.  I  will  withdraw " 

"  By  no  means !  "  said  Maynadier ;  "  our  business 
is  over,  for  the  time. — Permit  me !  "  and  he  stepped 
to  the  door. 

"  Nonsense !  "  exclaimed  the  Colonel.  "  She  is 
not  going  to  talk  secrets — what  is  it,  Martha — per 
mission  to  take  some  of  the  horses  ?  " 

"  No,"  she  replied,  and  glanced,  meaningly,  at 
Maynadier — who  at  once  retired. 

She  waited  until  the  door  was  shut. 

"It  is  this,"  she  said.  "That  letter,  which  I 
gave  you  last  evening — I  want  it  back  again." 

The  Governor  looked  his  surprise. 

"  You  want  it  back  again  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  Yes — and  your  promise  not  to  use  it.  There  is 
nothing  to  be  gained  by  exposing  him,  except  a 
scandal,  which  must,  necessarily,  drag  me  in." 

"  You  have  changed  your  mind  since  last  night," 
he  commented. 

"  I  have,"  she  answered.  "  In  less  than  two 
20 


306  THE  IMPOSTOR 

weeks  he  will  have  sailed. — So,  let  it  rest — it  will 
profit  nothing." 

He  unlocked  a  drawer,  took  out  Lady  Gather- 
wood's  letter,  and  handed  it  to  her. 

A  glad  smile  came  to  her  face. 

"  Thank  you,  sir  !  oh,  thank  you !  "  and  she  bent, 
and  brushed  his  cheek,  lightly,  with  her  lips. 

He  reached  up,  and  drew  her  down  on  the  arm  of 
his  chair. 

"  And  have  you  no  other  reason,  my  dear?  "  he 
asked. 

"  No !  "  with  a  shake  of  her  pretty  head. — "  No 
other  reason." 

He  looked  at  her  thoughtfully. 

"  What  were  you  and  Sir  Edward — I  call  him 
that  for  want  of  a  better  name — talking  about  last 
night — out  yonder  in  the  moonlight?  "  he  asked. 

She  laughed,  a  little  guiltily — watching  his  face 
the  while. 

"  He  was  making  love  to  me,"  she  replied — "  he 
does  it  very  well,  indeed,  sir." 

"  So  it  would  seem,"  said  the  Governor — "  so 
well,  indeed,  that  you  sought  at  once  to  regain  the 
Catherwood  letter,  but,  thinking  that  I  had  retired, 
came  back  the  first  thing,  this  morning." 

She  flushed,  and  her  eyes  went  toward  the  window. 

"  Just  so  !  "  he  said.  "  I  was  sitting  there,  and 
saw  it  all — saw  you  leave,  heard  you  come  to  my 
door  and  listen,  saw  you  return,  a  moment,  to  him — 
and,  now,  you  come  again — and  it  is  for  the  letter. 


'WHAT 


WERE   TOO    AND   SIR    EDWARD   TALKING    ABOUT    LAST  NIGHT  ?' 
HE  ASKED. 


ARRAIGNED  307 

You  know  that  he  is  not  Parkington,  that  he  is  an 
impostor — consequently,  he  must  have  told  you 
something  which  explains.  What  was  it?  " 

"  He  acknowledged  that  he  was  not  Parkington ; 
that  he " 

"  I  told  you,  specifically,  not  to  mention  the 
letter  to  him !  "  said  the  Governor. 

"  And  I  obeyed  you,"  she  answered.  "  Not  until 
he  had,  voluntarily  and  of  his  own  free  will,  con 
fessed,  did  I  refer  to  the  letter." 

The  Governor  beat  a  tattoo  on  the  table  with  his 
finger-tips. 

"  Who  does  he  say  he  is  ?  "  he  asked,  presently. 

She  told  him. 

"  Huh !  Doncaster's  son,  is  he !  How  does  he 
explain  the  letters,  and  the  impersonation?  " 

She  told  him. 

When  she  had  finished,  he  sat  silent,  pulling  at 
his  chin. 

"  Do  you  think  him  serious  in  his  love-making?  " 
he  asked. 

"  He  did  me  the  honor  to  propose,"  she  said. 

"  Hum ! — And  do  you — care  for  him  ?  " 

"  As  much  as  I  shall  ever  care  for  any  man,"  she 
answered  (thinking  of  Maynadier).  "  Further 
more,  it  would  be  an  excellent  match  for  me." 

*'  An  excellent  match,  if  he  speaks  truly.  There 
are  none  better,  in  all  England,  than  the  De 
Lysles." 


308  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  He  offered  to  wait,  until  we  got  to  England, 
for  the  wedding." 

"  Hum — that  makes  something  for  sincerity,  at 
least. — So,  you  wish  to  marry  him,  my  dear?  " 

"  I  think  I  do,"  she  said — "  that  is,  if  he  is  a 
De  Lysle." 

He  shook  his  head,  sadly.  "  I  am  sorry,  Martha, 
to  have  to  injure  your  prospects,  but  I  must  act  as 
the  Governor,  and  it  is  his  duty  to  call  him  to 
account.  He  has  misused  the  proprietor's  letters, 
and  our  hospitality." 

"  But  you  gave  me  the  letter,"  she  expostulated. 
"  What  other  proof  have  you  that  he  is  an  im 
postor?  " 

"  I  gave  you  the  letter  to  relieve  you  of  all 
participation,"  the  Colonel  said.  "  I  do  not  need 
it.  I  have  abundant  evidence  without  it,  and  there 
may  be  more,  besides." 

She  gave  a  little  gasp,  and  sat  up. 

"  Then  I  can  do  nothing?  "  she  asked. 

"  Nothing,"  he  said,  his  hand  stroking  tenderly 
the  dark  tresses — "  the  matter  must  go  on  to  its 
finish.  The  people  of  the  Province  shall  not  say 
that  I  knew  he  was  an  impostor,  yet  did  not  expose 
him.  I  regret  it,  my  dear,  but  when  one  takes 
another's  name,  he  commits  a  crime  against  society 
which  cannot  be  tolerated." 

"  What  shall  I  tell  him?  "  she  asked. 

"  Tell  him  you  have  the  letter,  and  that  the 
Governor  will  not  use  the  information  it  contained." 


ARRAIGNED  309 

"  That  will  be  the  truth,"  she  reflected. 

"  It  will,"  he  said ;  "  and,  further,  you  need  not 
go." 

And  she,  knowing  it  was  useless  to  argue  or  im 
plore,  kissed  him,  and  went,  slowly,  the  letter  of 
Lady  Catherwood  clutched  tightly  in  her  fingers. 

She  had  no  opportunity  to  communicate  with 
Parkington  until  after  breakfast,  other  than  a  sig 
nificant  nod,  as  his  eyes  sought  hers,  inquiringly. 
When  the  meal  was  finished,  he  joined  her,  and, 
presently,  they  sauntered  out  together. 

**  I  have  the  letter,"  she  said. 

**  You  are  a  dear !  "  he  exclaimed. 

"  And  I  have,  also,  the  Governor's  promise  not 
to  use  either  it,  or  the  information  it  contains." 

"  You  are  a  darling ! "  bending  down,  and  whis 
pering  in  her  ear. 

It  was  a  caress,  though  he  touched  her  not  at  all. 

And  her  heart  warmed  to  him,  with  a  sympathy 
she  had  never  felt  before.  Surely,  he  was  handsome, 
with  the  handsomeness  which  a  woman  loved,  a 
debonairness  that  was  fascinating. 

"  You  have  done  everything — you  have  saved 
me !  "  he  exclaimed. 

She  plucked  a  rose;  he  took  it,  and  drew  it 
through  his  buttonhole. 

"  I  have  done  what  I  can,"  she  replied ;  "  but  I 
have  not  saved  you." 

"  What?  the  letter!— the  information " 

"  Will  not  be  used  against  you,"  she  broke  in ; 


310  THE  IMPOSTOR 

"  but,  I  fear  that  the  Governor  has  other  evidence, 
quite  as  strong  and  much  more  convincing." 

His  thoughts  turned,  instantly,  to  Miss  Marbury. 
She  had  told — and  lost  no  time  in  the  telling,  either, 
it  would  seem.  He  smiled,  derisively.  Brandon 
was  right.  No  woman  could  keep  a  secret,  unless 
she  were  vitally  concerned  in  it. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  "  I  shall  stay  and  face  it.  At 
least,  they  shall  not  say  I  ran  away.  Moreover, 
they  cannot  do  more  than  unmask  me — and,  when 
the  mask  is  off,  they  show  a  De  Lysle — and  between 
a  De  Lysle  and  a  Parkington,  even  if  the  former  is 
somewhat  scar-marked,  there  is  vast  difference.  I 
may  not  accompany  Brandon  home;  but,  when  I 
go,  you  go  with  me." 

She  put  her  hand  on  his  arm. 

"  Prove  it,  and  I  will  go,"  she  said. 

He  took  her  hand,  regardless  of  who  saw,  and 
kissed  it  with  inimitable  grace,  bowing  low  over  it, 
the  while. 

"  It  is  a  bargain,  my  lady !  "  he  said.  "  I  accept 
your  own  terms.  Now,  with  your  permission,  I 
will  to  Sir  Charles  Brandon,  and  take  counsel  with 
him." 

As  they  were  returning,  a  man  came  rapidly  up 
the  esplanade,  from  the  landing,  and  passed  them, 
at  some  little  distance. 

"  Is  not  that  Mr.  Marbury? "  Miss  Stirling 
asked. 

Parkington  nodded,  but  did  not  speak. — Mar- 


ARRAIGNED  311 

bur y  \  The  one  man  who  could  prove  the  theft ! 
The  man  who  could  identify  Long-Sword !  Why 
should  he  have  come  to  Whitehall — and  at  this  par 
ticular  time? 

"  Was  he  not  expected?  "  he  asked,  with  assumed 
carelessness. 

"  No,"  she  replied.  "  He  likely  comes  to  see 
the  Governor,  on  business  which  requires  his  per 
sonal  approval." 

"  I  think  I  will  hasten  to  Sir  Charles,"  he  said, 
now  thoroughly  alarmed. 

Meanwhile,  Marbury  had  been  met,  as  he  neared 
the  house,  by  Maynadicr,  who  had  noted  his 
approach. 

"  What  does  his  Excellency  want  with  me  ?  "  he 
asked.  "  Has  it  to  do  with  the  theft?  " 

"  It  has — with  the  theft,  and  something  more. 
We  will  go  in — the  Governor  awaits  you  in  the 
drawing-room ;  he  will  relate  the  exact  facts." 

"  Mr.  Marbury,"  said  Colonel  Sharpe,  laying 
aside  the  Gazette  he  was  reading,  and  offering  his 
guest  a  chair,  "  I  have  sent  for  you  because  I  want 
your  aid." 

"  I  appreciate  the  honor,  sir,"  replied  Marbury, 
"  but,  as  I  am  the  only  person  concerned,  I  request 
your  Excellency  to  let  the  matter  rest.  Moreover, 
the  money  was  returned;  why  should  it  not  be  let 
rest?" 

"  I  think  you  do  not  quite  understand  the  situa- 


313  THE  IMPOSTOR 

tion,"  returned  the  Governor.     "  Let  me,  briefly, 

outline  the  facts " 

Marbury  listened,  in  impassive  silence.  The 
change  of  name  did  not  affect  him ;  he  knew  of  an 
other  such,  much  closer  home.  But  the  stealing 
of  another's  identity,  and  the  presentation  of  his 
letters,  were  serious  matters  to  the  Colonists,  and, 
he  admitted,  any  one  who  was  guilty  ought  to  be 
exposed. 

"  I  was  sure  you  would  see  it  as  we  do,  Mr.  Mar- 
bury,  when  you  knew  everything ! "  said  the 
Governor. 

"  Yes — the  theft  from  me — if  he  were  the  thief — 
was  solely,  my  affair,"  was  the  reply ;  "  this,  how 
ever,  concerns  us  all.  If  the  one  fit  into  the  other, 
I  shall  bear  my  part." 

The  Governor  struck  a  bell ;  the  orderly,  on  duty, 
entered. 

"  My  compliments  to  Captain  Herford,"  said  the 
Colonel,  "  and  say,  I  wish  to  see  him." 

The  man  saluted  and  withdrew.  In  a  moment, 
Captain  Herford  entered. 

"  Captain  Herford,  you  will  say,  to  Sir  Edward 
Parkington  and  to  Sir  Charles  Brandon,  that  the 
Governor  desires  their  attendance  in  the  drawing- 
room.  Then,  station  the  guard  outside  the  win 
dows,  with  two  just  without  the  doors.  You  under 
stand?  " 

Herford's  heels  came  together,  and  his  hand  rose 
to  his  forehead. 


ARRAIGNED  313 

"  Yes,  your  Excellency !  "  he  replied,  with  a  sur 
prised  lift  of  the  eye-brows  toward  Maynadier. 

He  found  Parkington  and  Brandon  together, 
pacing  back  and  forth  on  the  esplanade.  He  deliv 
ered  his  message  curtly,  faced  about,  and  tramped 
off.  These  men  were  not  to  his  liking,  and  in  his 
official  capacity,  as  his  Excellency's  aide-de-camp, 
it  did  his  small  soul  good  to  treat  them  with  scant 
courtesy. 

"  Well,  it  has  come  !  "  said  Parkington. 

Brandon  was  looking  after  Herford,  with  a 
frown. 

"  That  fellow,"  he  observed,  "  needs  to  be  taught 
some  civility  with  a  club — a  walking  stick  is  not 
stout  enough  to  be  effective." 

"  Never  mind  Herford,"  smiled  Parkington. 
"  Come  and  help  his  Excellency  hold  court,  for  my 
particular  benefit." 

Brandon  was  wearing  his  sword,  and,  now,  he 
gave  it  a  hitch  forward,  so  that  it  lay  close  to  his 
hand. 

**  You  do  not  anticipate  using  it  ?  "  his  friend 
asked. 

"  I  do  not  know,"  said  he,  with  an  ominous  shake 
of  the  head.  "  One  can  never  tell  how  suddenly  the 
occasion  may  arise.  That  is  why  I  am  never  with 
out  it — it  has  saved  my  life,  a  score  of  times,  in  the 
last  four  years." 

"  We  are  not  flying  the  Jolly  Roger,  now," 
Parkington  commented. 


314  THE  IMPOSTOR 

The  other  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  I  am  not 
so  sure." 

"  You  are  not  in  danger." 

"  You  forget  that  Marbury  is  with  the 
Governor." 

"  He  will  not  recognize  you — you,  yourself,  said 
so." 

"  That  was  before  you  were  suspected — I  counted 
on  your  word  to  prove  my  name." 

"  Then  do  not  come  with  me — do  not  run  the 
risk !  "  urged  Parkington. 

"  No,  I  must  brave  it  out.  To  decamp,  now, 
would  be  useless.  I  was  summoned,  I  presume,  be 
cause  you  vouched  for  me — but,  if  I  do  not  respond, 
that  instant  they  will  understand  I  had  good  cause 
for  going,  and  I  should  be  caught  ere  I  had  gone 
a  mile.  Come  on- — it  is  a  good  game  and  we  will 
play  it  out You  see ! "  he  said,  as  they  en 
tered  the  house,  pointing  to  the  opposite  doorway, 
through  which  could  be  seen  the  guard  parading. 
"  It  were  folly  to  do  otherwise." 

Every  one  was  down  at  the  race  track,  looking 
at  the  horses,  the  house  was  deserted,  save  for  the 
servants.  Miss  Stirling,  even,  was  gone  with  the 
rest- — Marbury's  coming  had  delayed  the  matter, 
she  supposed,  and  some  regard  must  be  paid  to  the 
duties  of  hostess. 

The  two  men  crossed  the  entrance  and  knocked 
at  the  drawing-room  door,  which,  contrary  to  cus- 


ARRAIGNED  315 

torn,  was  closed.  Instantly,  it  was  swung  open — 
and  the  Governor  bade  them  enter. 

He  was  standing  with  his  back  to  the  fire-place, 
his  hands  behind  him,  his  face  grave  and  thoughtful. 
He  returned,  with  studied  courtesy,  their  bows  of 
greeting,  and  motioned  for  them  to  be  seated. 
Maynadier,  placid  and  unmoved,  was  on  one  side, 
Marbury,  grim-faced  but  plainly  ill  at  ease,  on  the 
other. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  Colonel  Sharpe,  "  I  regret 
that  it  is  as  the  Governor  of  Maryland,  and  not  as 
Colonel  Sharpe,  that  I  have  had  to  request  your 
presence  here,  this  morning." 

"  We  took  it,  from  the  formal  manner  of  our 
summons,  that  your  Excellency  wished  to  confer 
with  us  in  your  official  capacity,"  said  Parkington, 
easily. 

The  Governor  bowed  again. 

"  Which,  being  understood,"  said  he,  "  we  can 
proceed  to  business Sir  Edward  Parking- 
ton,  I  have  received  information  of  such  a  pertinent 
character,  that  I  have  no  other  course  than  to  ques 
tion  your  identity.  I  do  it  with  the  greatest  re 
luctance — you  have  been  a  guest  in  my  house,  and 
in  the  houses  of  the  prominent  men  of  the  Colony — 
you  presented  letters,  from  Lord  Baltimore,  which 
were  regular,  and  which  entitled  you  to  be  received. 
We  are  informed,  now,  that  you  are  not  their  right 
ful  owner — in  other  words,  that  you  are  an  im- 


316  THE  IMPOSTOR 

poster.  What,  sir,  have  you  to  say  in  explana 
tion?" 

Parkington  laughed  a  little,  easy  laugh,  and 
brushed  a  speck  of  dust  from  his  coat  sleeve. 

*'  I  have  nothing  to  say,"  he  replied. — "  Your 
Excellency's  information  is  correct,  I  am  not  Sir 
Edward  Parkington." 

The  Governor's  jaw  closed  tight,  his  face  grew 
very  stern,  and,  for  a  brief  time,  he  did  not  answer. 

"  How  did  you  come  into  possession  of  Lord 
Baltimore's  letters  ?  "  he  asked,  at  length.  "  Did 
you  steal  them  ?  " 

"  No ! "  said  Parkington,  "  naless  taking  them 
from  a  dead  man  is  stealing."  ....  He  shrugged 
his  shoulders.  "  I  will  tell  you  the  facts,  since  you 
wish  to  know  them." 

He  drew  out  his  snuff-box — offered  it  to  the 
others,  with  a  graceful  gesture — took  a  pinch  him 
self,  and  told  his  story. 

"  And  you  say  that  you  did  this  thing  in  a  fit  of 
foolishness  ? "  the  Governor  asked,  when  he  had 
finished. 

"  Yes — I  did  not  appreciate  how  difficult  it  would 
be  to  throw  off  the  false  identity.  That  is  why  I 
was  going  home :  to  regain  myself." 

"  Who,  in  truth,  are  you  ?  "  asked  the  Governor. 
(He  did  not  care  to  disclose  that  Miss  Stirling  had 
told  him.) 


ARRAIGNED  317 

"  Roger  de  Lysle,  second  son  of  the  Earl  of 
Doncaster,"  was  the  answer. 

Maynadier  turned  and  looked  at  him,  with  sudden 
interest — Marbury's  grim  visage  relaxed  a  trifle. 
There  was  virtue,  in  those  days,  in  a  name. 

"Have  you  the  means  of  proving  it?  "  said  his 
Excellency — "  any  papers — anything,  indeed?  " 

"  My  papers  were  lost  when  The  Sally  foundered. 
But  Sir  Charles  Brandon  can  attest  me." 

The  Governor  turned,  inquiringly,  to  Brandon, 
who  was  sitting  somewhat  back,  and  quite  within 
the  shadow. 

"  I  can  substantiate  his  statement  that  he  is 
Doncaster's  son,"  said  Brandon.  "  I  have  known 
the  family,  intimately,  for  years." 

As  he  spoke,  Marbury  suddenly  threw  up  his 
head,  much  as  a  dog  does  to  the  scent,  and  his 
sharp  eyes  glistened.  At  the  end,  he  arose,  and, 
with  never  a  glance  at  any  one,  went  out. 

"  The  difficulty  is,"  said  the  Governor,  "  that  this 
man  (who  admits  he  is  an  impostor)  introduced 
you.  Have  you  any  means  of  identification?" 

"  It  is  a  proper  question,"  returned  Brandon, 
promptly. 

Arising,  he  took  a  bundle  of  papers  from  his 
pocket,  and  handed  them  to  the  Governor. 

The  latter  examined  them,  one  by  one,  carefully 
and  slowly.  When  he  had  finished,  he  passed  them 
on  to  Maynadier. 

"  They  are  regular,"  he  said,  "  but  rather  old — 


318  THE  IMPOSTOR 

the  latest  is  dated  more  than  four  years  back." 

"  I  am  Sir  Charles  Brandon,  now,  just  as  well  as 
four  years  ago  !  "  he  laughed.  Then,  he  explained : 
"  It  is  four  years  since  I  left  England." 

"  And  you  have  not,  in  that  time,  had  letters  from 
home?" 

"  None." 

The  Governor  nodded,  then  turned  to  Maynadier, 
and  the  two  conversed  in  low  tones. 

Brandon  stretched  out  his  legs  and  frowned — 
the  talk  had  stirred  old  ashes  that  still  smouldered. 

De  Lysle,  untroubled  and  unconcerned,  picked  up 
the  Gazette,  the  Governor  had  been  reading,  and 
glanced  over  it. 

The  first  three  columns  had  to  do  with  news, 
three  months  old,  of  the  Court  and  Parliament. 
He  passed  them  by.  The  column  which  did  for 
Boston,  and  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  also,  went 
unread.  The  stick  of  Annapolis  doings,  for  the 
past  week,  was  glanced  at,  curiously.  Then,  down 
at  the  bottom  of  the  last  column,  something  in 
larger  type,  caught  his  eye.  He  looked,  casually, 
at  it,  then  looked  again — then  read  it,  amazed,  and 
a  second  time,  read  it,  and  the  third  time. 

Just  at  that  moment,  Marbury  re-entered. 
Brandon  turned  his  head  from  him,  but  the  former 
stopped,  deliberately  peered  in  his  face,  and  wheeled 
on  the  Governor. 

"  Your  Excellency,"  he  said,  "  it  would  appear 
that  you  have  seined  for  a  small  fish,  and  caught 


ARRAIGNED  319 

a  shark.  This  man  you  know,  I  believe,  as  Sir 
Charles  Brandon?  " 

"  He  was  so  introduced,"  returned  the  Governor, 
a  little  surprise  showing  in  his  voice ;  "  and  his 
papers  bear  him  out — albeit,  they  are  some  four 
years  old." 

Marbury  laughed,  scornfully. 

"  The  papers  seem  to  bear  out  Parkington,  too  !  " 
he  said.  "  However,  they  may  be  right  enough — 
he  may  be  Sir  Charles  Brandon — but — he  is,  also, 
Long-Sword  the  Pirate." 


XX 

THE    PENALTY    OF    A    BIRTH-MABK 

IF  Marbury  had  played  for  effect,  he  could  not 
have  done  it  better. 

For  an  instant,  no  one  spoke — no  one  even 
stirred.  Then,  the  Governor  recovered  himself. 

"  My  God !  man !  do  you  realize  what  you  have 
said  ?  "  he  exclaimed. 

"  I  do,"  said  Marbury ;  "  and  I  am  ready  to 
prove  it."  He  strode  to  the  window.  "  Let  Jami 
son  and  his  mate  come  in !  "  he  shouted. 

At  the  same  time,  the  Governor  raised  his  voice. 

"  Herford !  "  he  called,  "  the  guard !  the  guard ! 
— Your  pardon,  sir,"  addressing  Brandon,  "  but 
the  seriousness  of  the  charge  obligates  it." 

De  Lysle  had  sprung  up  in  indignation;  Bran 
don  stayed  him  with  a  gesture. 

"  I  understand,"  he  said,  crossing  his  legs,  with 
unconcern.  "  It  is  a  proper  precaution.  If  I 
were  Long-Sword,  there  might  be  need  for  them. 
As  I  am  not  he,  I  must  ask  Mr.  Marbury  to  pro 
duce  his  evidence  at  once.  It  is  scarcely  fitting, 
that  Sir  Charles  Brandon  rest  under  an  imputation 
so  serious,  an  instant  longer  than  is  required  to 
disprove  it." 

"  Let  Jamison,  and  the  mate,  wait  in  the  outer 
room  until  required,"  said  Colonel  Sharpe,  to  Her 
ford  who,  at  that  moment,  appeared  at  the  head  of 
320 


THE  PENALTY  OF  A  BIRTH-MARK  321 

the  guard. — "  Now,  Mr.  Marbury,  we  are  ready  to 
hear  your  proofs." 

"  Your  Excellency  knows  of  the  attack  on 
Hedgely  Hall,"  Marbury  said,  "  and  the  capture  of 
their  leader,  who,  by  his  own  admission  to  me, 
was  Long-Sword — also,  of  his  escape,  after  killing 
his  guard.  I  had  every  chance  to  observe  him, 
during  the  long  colloquy  concerning  ransom,  and, 
afterward,  on  the  ship.  The  voice,  the  face,  the 
build,  every  action  of  the  man  is  the  same.  I  iden 
tify  him,  beyond  question.  And  more,  I  have  had 
no  communication  with  Jamison  and  his  mate,  their 
ship  brought  me  here,  and  I  have  sent  for  them — 
I  have  not  seen  them.  They  have  never  seen  Sir 
Charles  Brandon.  I  am  willing  to  submit  the  case 
on  their  testimony.  Let  them  confront  him.  If 
they  do  not  sustain  me,  I  will  withdraw  the  charge, 
and  apologize,  most  humbly." 

The  Governor'  turned  to  Herford,  who,  sword 
drawn,  was  standing  by  the  closed  door,  and  nodded 
for  him  to  admit  Jamison. 

The  skipper  entered,  hesitatingly,  and  halted 
just  within  the  room.  The  soldiers,  the  Governor's 
mansion,  the  unfamiliar  surroundings,  the  sudden 
summons,  the  mystery  of  it  all  had  produced  their 
natural  result.  He  was  frightened. 

"  Jamison,"  said  Colonel  Sharpe,  "  will  you  do 
us  the  favor  to  look  at  the  gentleman,  immediately 
on  your  left,  and  tell  us  whether  you  have  ever  seen 
him." 
21 


822  THE  IMPOSTOR 

The  skipper  turned,  slowly ;  at  the  same  instant, 
Marbury  threw  back  the  hangings  from  the  win 
dow,  and  the  morning  sun  flooded  the  apartment. 

"  Good  God !  "  he  exclaimed,  starting  back.  "  It 
is  Long-Sword !  Long-Sword  the  Pirate !  " 

"That  will  do,"  said  the  Governor;  "stand 
aside.  Now,  summon  the  mate." 

He  also  entered,  slowly,  as  though  doubtful  of 
his  reception,  his  hat  held  nervously  in  his  fingers, 
his  eyes  shifting  rapidly  from  side  to  side,  yet 
appreciating  nothing.  When  the  Governor  spoke, 
he  jumped  as  though  he  had  been  struck,  instead, 
and  the  question  had  to  be  repeated  before  he  un 
derstood  its  tenor.  Then  he  wheeled,  suddenly — 
and  came  face  to  face  with  Brandon. 

Instantly,  he  let  out  a  yell,  and  sprang  clear 
to  the  other  side  of  the  room. 

"  Long-Sword !  Long-Sword !  "  he  cried. 

Brandon  laughed,  lightly. 

"  Long-Sword  must  have  been  the  very  devil ! " 
he  said.  Then,  he  became  grave.  "  Surely,  your 
Excellency  will  not  view  too  seriously  what  must 
be  a  very  striking  resemblance  between  this  pirate 
and  myself.  But,  that  you  may  be  relieved  of  all 
embarrassment,  I  am  willing  to  go  to  England 
under  guard.  There,  that  I  am  Sir  Charles  Bran 
don  can  be  instantly  attested  by  any  one  at  Court, 
his  Majesty,  himself,  included.  If  you  do  this,  I 
will  give  you,  in  addition,  my  parole  that  I  will  not 
seek  to  escape." 


THE  PENALTY  OF  A  BIRTH-MARK  323 

"  Why  should  you  do  it  ?  "  exclaimed  De  Lysle, 
seeing  the  play,  and  seeking  to  aid  it. 

"  Because  it  is  proper  that  I  should  aid  his 
Excellency  in  his  perplexity,"  Brandon  said. 
"  Three  witnesses  name  me  as  Long-Sword ;  it  is 
absurd,  and  the  quickest  way  to  prove  the  absurdity 
is  to  send  me  home  for  identification.  It  is  the 
penalty  I  pay,  for  being  a  pirate's  double." 

"  Will  you  be  satisfied,  if  I  send  him  to  Eng 
land  under  guard?  "  the  Governor  asked  Marbury. 

"  No,  I  am  not  satisfied,"  was  the  answer.  "  He 
may,  in  truth,  be  Sir  Charles  Brandon,  but  that  does 
not  prevent  him  from  being  Long-Sword,  too.  By 
his  own  admission  (I  heard  it,  as  I  stood  in  the 
outer  room),  he  has  not  been  home  for  four  years, 
and  he  has  had  no  word  from  England  in  the 
interim.  Why? — Why? — Where  has  he  been  these 
four  years? — what  doing?  It  is  just  about  that 
period  since  Long-Sword  the  Pirate  appeared. 
Strange  coincidence,  is  it  not,  when  you  consider 
the  resemblance? — and  the  further  fact,  that  he 
is  discreetly  silent  as  to  his  whereabouts  during 
these  four  years.  I  was  willing  to  let  him  go,  when 
he  escaped.  I  wanted  no  further  bother  concern 
ing  him.  But,  when  he  actually  has  the  effrontery 
to  invade  your  Excellency's  house,  as  a  guest,  and 
impose  upon  the  good  people  of  this  Province,  I  say, 
let  him  be  punished.  No,  sir,  I  am  not  satisfied 
to  have  him  sent  home,  and  then  released,  if  he  be 
identified  as  Brandon." 


324  THE  IMPOSTOR 

The  Governor  nodded,  gravely. 

"  What  have  you  to  say,  monsieur,  to  the  propo 
sition,  that  you  could  be  both  Sir  Charles  Brandon 
and  Long-Sword?  "  he  asked. 

Brandon  raised  his  hands,  expressively. 

"  That  may  be  true,"  said  he.  "  But  an  English 
gentleman,  of  means,  is  not  likely  to  become  a 
pirate." 

"  Your  Excellency,"  said  Jamison,  coming  a  step 
forward,  "  might  I  be  permitted  to  say  some 
thing?  " 

Colonel  Sharpe  turned  to  him,  with  a  frown. 

"  Speak  up !  "  he  said,  shortly.     "  What  is  it?  " 

"  Long-Sword  had  a  collar-bone  broken  in  the 
fight,  when  he  was  captured — "  began  Jamison. 

"  And  you  mean,  that  there  may  be  evidence  of 
it  ?  "  the  Governor  interrupted.  "  Very  good ! — 
Brandon,  will  you  submit  to  examination  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  sir !  I  shall  be  glad  to  let  either  you 
or  Mr.  Maynadier  inspect  my  shoulders.  Why  did 
you  not  speak  of  this  sooner,  fellow  ?  "  he  added. 

It  was  the  evidence  he  had  been  hoping  for — had, 
indeed,  depended  on  to  establish  his  innocence.  And 
they  had  been  long  in  coming  to  it !  The  bones  had 
knit  as  neatly  as  before  the  break. 

"  And  when  you  are  about  it,"  added  Jamison, 
"  you  might  look  for  a  star-shaped  birth-mark, 
under  the  left  arm.  I  noticed  it,  when  I  bound  up 
his  injury.  If  it  is  not  there,  then  he  is  not  Long- 
Sword." 


THE  PENALTY  OF  A  BIRTH-MARK  325 

"  Very  good !  my  man,  they  may  look  for  the 
birth-mark,  too,"  said  Brandon. 

He  crossed  to  the  window,  where  the  sun  would 
fall  full  upon  him,  divesting  himself  of  his  coat  as 
he  went ;  glanced  out  at  the  turf,  below,  tossed  the 
coat,  carelessly,  on  a  chair,  and,  putting  one  hand 
on  the  ledge,  suddenly  vaulted  through  the  opening. 

It  was  so  totally  unexpected,  that,  for  an  instant, 
no  one  moved.  Then  Captain  Herford,  with  a 
shout  to  his  men  to  follow,  bounded  across  the  room, 
and  leaped  out  in  pursuit. 

Brandon  had  slipped  on  the  grass,  when  he 
landed,  and  Herford  alighted  almost  in  his  arms, 
and  a  trifle  beyond  him.  Both  men  recovered  them 
selves  at  the  same  instant,  but  Herford  was  between 
Brandon  and  freedom.  Like  a  flash,  he  drew  his 
sword,  and  flung  himself  upon  the  aide. 

Herford  was  not  an  expert,  but  he  had  agility, 
and,  that  first  requisite  of  a  fencer,  a  strong  wrist, 
and  he  held  his  own,  for  the  moment  that  was 
necessary  to  enable  the  guard  to  come  up.  Just 
as  they  appeared,  he  felt  the  other's  sword  pass 
through  his  shoulder,  and  he  knew  no  more. 

Brandon  whipped  out  the  blade,  and  sprang 
forward.  Too  late!  A  dozen  soldiers  were  in  the 
way.  He  put  his  back  to  the  house,  and  waited. 

He  would  die,  here — die  as  Long-Sword — die  with 
the  music  of  the  steel,  perhaps  the  roll  of  musketry, 
in  his  ears.  It  was  better — much  better — than  the 
rope. 


326  THE  IMPOSTOR 

A  figure  leaped  down  from  the  window.  It  was 
De  Lysle. 

"  Brandon  !  "  he  exclaimed.     "  Let  me  aid  you." 

The  other  waved  him  back. 

"  You  cannot  aid  me.  I  am  alone  on  the  ship," 
he  said.  "  Farewell,  my  friend. — Ah !  place  for  his 
Excellency ! " 

The  Governor  came  hurriedly  out,  followed  by 
Maynadier  and  Marbury.  Constable,  and  the  rest 
of  the  men  of  the  house  party,  attracted  by  the 
unusual  commotion,  were  hastening  over  from  the 
race  track,  though  they  could  not  yet  see  what 
was  occurring  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  house. 

Colonel  Sharpe  took  in  the  whole  scene  at  a 
glance: — the  solitary  figure  against  the  wall,  the 
dozen  soldiers  that  hemmed  him  in,  the  wounded 
Her  ford  lying  on  the  grass,  the  blood  blotching 
breast  and  shoulder. 

And  he  swore  a  great  oath,  and,  kneeling,  raised 
the  Captain's  head. 

"  He  is  not  dead !  "  he  said.  "  Here,  Maynadier, 
look  to  him,  will  you?  "  Then  he  arose  and  faced 
Brandon. 

The  latter's  sword  went  up  in  salute. 

"  Perhaps  your  Excellency  will  favor  me  with  a 
pass  or  two  ?  "  he  said. 

The  Governor's  face  was  set  and  stern,  for  the 
time,  all  mercy  had  passed  out  of  it. 

"  For  I  am  Long-Sword,"  he  continued,  "  even 


THE  PENALTY  OF  A  BIRTH-MARK  327 

as  I  am  Sir  Charles  Brandon.  And,  ere  we  grow 
busy  in  the  business  of  death,  I  want  to  say,  in  order 
that  my  friend,  De  Lysle,  may  not  be  misunderstood, 
that,  although  he  recognized  me  after  he  entered  the 
cabin,  where  I  was  prisoner,  yet  he  knew  nothing  of 
my  coming  to  Annapolis,  until  I  walked  in  upon 
him  at  the  Coffee-house.  I  was  going  home.  Long- 
Sword  the  Pirate  was  to  be  buried,  forever.  In  ten 

days,  I  should  have  sailed But  the  Fates 

were  against  me — I  shall  not  go  home — I  shall  die 
as  Long-Sword,  instead."  He  bowed  gracefully 
to  the  Governor.  "  I  thank  your  Excellency ! 
Now,  cry  on  your  dogs  !  " 

At  this  instant,  Constable  came  through  the 
house  and  out  on  the  esplanade. 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  he  exclaimed — "  what  does  it 
mean  ?  " 

"  It  is  the  passing  of  Long-Sword  the  Pirate," 
Brandon  answered.  "  Will  not  your  Excellency 
begin?" 

"  I  would  much  rather  you  surrendered,"  said 
Colonel  Sharpe. 

"  No  doubt !  it  would  save  you  a  few  lives,"  he 
mocked. 

"  You  decline  to  yield?  " 

Brandon  bowed. 

"  Then  shoot  him,  sergeant ! "  was  the  order. 

But  before  a  trigger  could  be  pulled,  or  a  flint 
lock  fall,  Brandon  was  upon  them.  His  sword 
flashed  in  and  out,  there  was  a  swaying  back  and 


328  THE  IMPOSTOR 

forth,  shouts  and  cries,  the  clubbing  of  muskets, 
the  groans  of  the  wounded,  a  melee,  in  which  all 
were  mingled  in  a  blur  of  strife  and  struggle 

Then,  the  line  parted ;  and  through  the  opening, 
his  sword  at  the  lunge,  staggered  Brandon.  Blood 
gushed  from  his  face  and  head,  from  his  breast, 
from  his  legs.  He  was  almost  sped.  He  came  a 
little  way — faltered — stopped.  A  soldier  stepped 
out  behind  him  and  passed  his  hanger  through  his 
throat.  He  fell  without  a  word.  So,  Long-Sword 
died. 

The  Governor,  his  wrath  passed,  looked  down  at 
the  dead,  and  shook  his  head,  sadly. 

"  He  was  a  brave  man !  "  he  said.  "  May  I  meet 

death  as  fearlessly,  when  my  time  comes 

Gentlemen,  this  deplorable  scene  is  over — let  me 
suggest  that  you  hasten  to  the  ladies,  and  keep  them 
on  the  other  side  of  the  house,  until  all  traces  of  the 
conflict  have  been  removed." 

He  hooked  his  arm  within  Maynadier's,  and  went 
slowly  in. 

"  I  have  had  enough  of  crime  and  punishment," 
he  said,  as  they  passed  the  doorway.  "  What  think 
you,  shall  we  excuse  Parkington — let  him  depart  in 
peace,  for  England  ?  " 

"  Yes !  "  replied  Maynadier. 

"  How  say  you,  Marbury  ?  "  the  Governor  asked. 

"  As  I  have  said  all  along :  let  it  rest !  let  him 
go!" 

"  There  are  some  things  that  are  not  explained, 


THE  PENALTY  OF  A  BIRTH-MARK  329 

but  they  can  bide — yes,  I  think  that  he  may  go. — 
Parkington !  "  he  called. 

Parkington,  who  was  kneeling  by  the  body  of 
his  dead  friend,  arose  and  came  forward. 

"  Sir  Edward !  "  said  the  Governor.  "  We  have 
decided  to  pursue  your  matter  no  further,  upon  the 
condition,  however,  that  you  will  continue  to  bear 
the  name  of  Parkington,  and  reside  in  this  house, 
as  a  guest,  until  the  first  ship  sails  for  England. 
Are  you  content  ?  " 

Parkington  bowed  low.  "  More  than  content, 
your  Excellency.  I  am  deeply  grateful.  Moreover, 
there  are  pressing  reasons,  now,  for  my  instant 
return  to  England." 

He  drew  the  Annapolis  paper  from  his  pocket, 
and,  pointing  to  the  item  in  larger  type  at  the  foot 
of  the  last  column,  passed  it  across. 

Colonel  Sharpe  read: 

"FIVE  HUNDRED  POUNDS  REWARD  I 
"  For  information  sent  to  the  undersigned,  that 
will  lead  to  the  location  of  the  present  whereabouts 
of  the  Honourable  Roger  James  Howard  de  Lysle, 
who,  it  is  thought,  sailed  for  America,  incognito, 
about  the  first  of  April,  last  past.  He  is  of 
average  size,  with  black  hair  and  eyes,  -fair  com 
plexion,  clear  cut  -features,  and  fine  bearing.  By 
the  sudden  demise  of  the  persons  intervening,  he 
has  succeeded  to  the  title  and  estates  of  the  Earl 
of  Doncaster." 


330  THE  IMPOSTOR 

The  Governor  ceased.  "  My  lord,"  he  said, 
extending  his  hand,  "  you  have  my  congratulations ! 
But  I  think,  for  reasons  which  you  will  understand," 
he  added,  "  you  best  ding  to  the  old  name,  so  long 
as  you  are  in  America." 

The  Earl  bowed.  "  Your  Excellency  is  right. 
As  Parkington  I  came  to  Annapolis,  as  Parkington 
I  shall  leave  it. — Will  you  wait  here  one  moment, 
sir?  " 

He  returned,  presently,  with  Miss  Stirling. 

"  My  dear,"  he  said,  "  I  did  myself  the  honor  of 
asking  you  to  marry  me,  when  I  was  simply  Roger 
de  Lysle;  and,  though  you  did  not  promise,  yet  you 
were  good  enough  to  consider  it  not  unfavorably, 
I  thought.  Now,  in  the  presence  of  his  Excellency 
the  Governor,  your  uncle,  I  do  myself  the  further 
honor  of  asking  you  to  become  the  Countess  of 
Doncaster." 

Miss  Stirling's  heart  beat  wildly. 

"  The  Countess  of  Doncaster ! "  she  repeated, 
wonderingly.  "  You  are  the  Earl?  " 

"  I  am  the  Earl,"  he  answered.  Then  he  smiled, 
the  winning,  fascinating  smile  that  was  his,  and 
held  out  his  arms  to  her.  "  Will  you  go  home 
with  me,  dear?  "  he  asked. 

Without  hesitation,  she  went  to  him. 

"  I  will  go,  my  lord,"   she  answered.     "  I  will 


go." 


FINIS. 


A  NEW  SPARKLING   ROMANCE 

The  Woman  in  Question 

By  JOHN  REED  SCOTT 

Author  of  "The  Colonel  of  the  Red  Huzzars,"  "The  Princess  DcAra," 
and  "Beatrix  of  Clare" 

THREE  FULL-PAGE  ILLUSTRATIONS  IN  COLOR 
BY  CLARENCE  F.   UNDERWOOD 

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"  The  Woman  in  Question"  is  a  romance,  but  not  of 
Valeria  nor  mediaeval  England.  Mr.  Scott  has  remained 
home  in  America,  and  the  scenes  are  laid  in  the  Eastern 
United  States.  The  story  is  distinctly  modern  in  tone  and 
theme,  and  centers  in  and  around  Fairlawn  Hall,  an  old 
mansion  with  a  marvellous  garden,  lying  on  the  outskirts  of 
Egerton,  where  the  new  master  has  come  with  a  party  of 
friends — to  find  mystery,  misfortune,  and  love  awaiting  him. 

Mr.  Scott  shows  steady  improvement  in  each  succeeding 
novel,  and  he  has  planned  this  latest  story  well,  filling  it 
with  many  surprises  and  dramatic  moments. 

"  The  story  has  dash  and  verve." 

— New  Tork  Times  Saturday  Re-view  of  Socks. 

"There  are  few  heroines  in  latter-day  American  fiction  comparable 
with  charming  Mildred  Gascoyne." — Philadelphia  North  American. 

"  The  dialogue  is  bright  and  sparkling,  the  characters  interesting,  and 
the  plot  sufficiently  exciting.  The  woman  in  question,  young,  beautiful, 
and  spirited,  is  involved  in  mystery,  the  unfolding  of  which  introduces 
some  thrilling  episodes." — Boston  Evening  Transcript. 


J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  CO. 


DELIGHTFULLT    FASCINATING 

The 

Princess  Dehra 

By  JOHN  REED  SCOTT 

In  which  we  meet  again  the  characters  of  his  dashing  suc 
cess,  "  The  Co  lone  I  of  the  Red  Huzzars"  (Eleven  editions). 


MR.  SCOTT  displays  uncommon  dramatic  skill 
in  the  handling  of  his  characters — the  same, 
by  the  way,  as  those  who  were  met  in  his 
"  Colonel  of  the  Red  Huzzars."  It  is  a  continuation 
of  that  former  dashing  romance  of  an  American  army 
officer  who  turns  out  to  have  royal  blood  in  his 
veins  which  eventually  wins  for  him  a  throne  and 
enthrones  him  in  the  heart  of  a  charming  princess  ; 
mystery,  intrigue,  plot,  and  counterplot,  all  are 
here,  and  the  reader  will  find  his  attention  held  until 
the  very  last  page,  when  loyalty  and  the  wit  of  a 
woman  triumph  in  the  face  of  even  "the  Book  of 
Laws  "  and  a  clever  rascal. 

41  Here  is  a  new  story  to  set  the  pulses  tingling." 

—Philadelphia  Press. 

"Since  Hope's  '  Prisoner  of  Zenda,' nothing  better  has  been 
done  than  this  new  story  by  the  author  of  '  The  Colonel  of  the 
Red  Huzzars.'  " — Cincinnati  Enquirer. 

"  There  are  situations  involving  the  principal  characters 
which  are  ingenious  in  conception  and  cleverly  woven  into  the 
story  by  essential  and  natural  sequence,  and  at  these  situations 
the  reader  feels  a  desire  to  continue  the  story,  even  if  the  house 
be  burning.  He  has  produced  a  story  that  is  interesting  and 
exciting  without  being  overdrawn." 

— Boston  Evening  Transcript. 

Four  Full-page  Illustrations  in  Color  by  Clarence  F.  Underwood, 
izmo.     Decorated  Cloth,  $1.50. 


J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS  PHILADELPHIA 


THE  DASHING  NOVEL 

THE 

COLONEL 

OF  THE 

RED   HUZZARS 

By 
JOHN  REED  SCOTT 

Stirring  adventures,  courtly  intrigue,  and  fencing  both 
of  sword  and  wit,  fill  the  pages  of  this  story.  The  plot  is 
built  upon  a  wager  between  Major  Dalberg,  U.  S.  A.,  and 
a  friend  that  within  a  certain  time  both  would  be  dining 
with  the  king  and  dancing  with  the  princess  royal  of  Va 
leria.  Strangely  enough,  Dalberg  proves  to  be  of  the  blood 
royal  of  Valeria,  is  reinstated  into  his  ancestral  rights,  and 
when  matters  are  about  to  reach  a  climax,  the  pretender 
steps  in,  and  there  ensues  an  encounter  between  American 
pluck  and  unscrupulous  cleverness. 

"  There's  not  a  dull  page  in  it." — The  Index,  Pittsburg. 

"  A  slap-dashing  vacation-day  romance." — Evening  Sun,  New  York. 

"  So  naively  fresh  in  its  handling,  so  plausible  through  its  naturalness, 
that  it  comes  like  a  mountain  breeze  across  the  far-spreading  desert  oi 
similar  romances." — Gazette- Times,  Pittsburg. 

Illustrations   in    Colors   by    CLARENCE    F.    UNDERWOOD 
12mo.     Decorated  cloth,  $1.50 

J,    R    LIPPINCOTT   COMPANY    Philadelphia 


A  New  Romance  Teeming  with  Love  and  Adventure 

BEATRIX 
OF  CLARE 

By  JOHN  REED  SCOTT 

Whose  "Colonel  of  the  Red  Huzzars"    (Eleven  Editions)    captured 
first  place  as  1906*3  most  dashing  novel. 

England  in  the  time  of  Richard  III  forms  the 
setting  for  this  tale  of  romance  and  adventure,  which 
takes  place  close  about  the  throne.  Beatrix,  beauty, 
heiress,  and  Countess  of  Clare,  is  won  by  the  young 
knight  and  courtier,  De  Lacy,  beneath  the  friendly 
smiles  of  both  king  and  queen,  while  their  love  affair 
is  troubled  by  abduction  and  bloodshed,  and  influenced 
by  the  great  events  which  stir  the  kingdom  and  even 
threaten  the  crown.  The  novel  is  full  of  "  go " 
from  start  to  finish. 


"Not  a  dull  line  in 
the  book." 
Pittiburg  Dispatch. 


"  The  story  is  ennobling  as 
well  as  bright  and  fascinat 
ing."  Baltimore  Sun. 


"  Holds  the  interest 
closely  to  the  end." 

Boston  Ev.  Tranicrifl 


"  Noteworthy  as  a  real  contribution  to  historical 
romance."      San  Francisco  Chronicle. 

FOUR  FULL-PAGE  ILLUSTRATIONS  IN  COLOR  BY 
CLARENCE  F.  UNDERWOOD. 

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PUBLISHERS  PHILADELPHIA 


A   NOVEL  OF    COMPELLING    INTEREST 

The  Heart  of  Desire 

By  ELIZABETH  DEJEANS 

Author  of  "The  Winning  Chance." 

WITH  COLORED  ILLUSTRATIONS  BY  THE  KINNEYS 
12MO.     CLOTH,  $1.50 


A  remarkable  novel,  full  of  vital  force,  which  gives  us 
a  glimpse  into  the  innermost  sanctuary  of  a  woman's 
soul — a  revelation  of  the  truth  that  to  a  woman  there  may 
be  a  greater  thing  than  the  love  of  a  man — the  story  pict 
ured  against  a  wonderful  Southern  California  background. 

"One  of  the  big  headliners  in  bookland." — Detroit  News. 

"The  book  is  a  tissue  of  mysteries,  quite  apart  from  the  ordi 
nary  usages,  but  solved  in  the  end  satisfactorily." 

• — Chicago  Tribune. 

'*  One  of  those  rare  examples  of  literary  composition  the  artistic 
excellence  of  which  is  uniform  and  even  throughout." 

—  Charleston  News  and  Courier. 

'*  There  is  color,  vitality,  and  freshness  in  the  picture,  and 
charming  variety  of  detail  in  the  development  of  story.  Horton 
is  the  ideal  lover,  strong-hearted,  wilful,  persevering  ;  and  Kate 
is  the  vivid,  tantalizing,  impersonal  creature  in  an  armor  of  secrecy. 
But  the  author  transforms  this  woman  into  a  being  of  rarest  and 
most  beautiful  human  qualities — or  rather,  brings  those  latent  emo 
tions  to  the  fore.  She  is  a  woman  racked  by  grief  over  death  and 
unhappy  marital  experiences  in  youth,  and,  later,  a  woman  'lied 
to,  tortured,  duped,  and  her  heart  polluted  and  desecrated '  ;  and 
in  giving  up  her  beloved  lawyer-friend,  whom  she  would  have 
married,  to  the  '  helpless,  motherless,  hampered '  child  who  so 
passionately  claimed  his  love,  Kate's  humanism  stands  out  in  almost 
supernatural  power." — Boston  Evening  Transcript. 


J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS  PHILADELPHIA 


DATE  DUE 


GAYLORD 


PRINTED  IN  US 


